AGS222 ASSIGNMENT

VITAMIN A

Importance to the Body:

Important for healthy bones, teeth, mucous membranes and skin. Aids vision, especially in the dark. Carotenoids, which are other forms of vitamin A are powerful antioxidants.
Sources:

Retinol- meat, eggs, oily fish, liver, milk, cheese, kidney
Carotenoids - carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, cantaloupe melon, broccoli, spinach, pumpkin and all other green and orange fruits and vegetables.
Symptoms of deficiency:

Poor night vision, eye problems, weakened immune system and more prone to infection.

Treatment

Dietary deficiency is traditionally treated with vitamin A palmitate in oil 60,000 IU po once/day for 2 days, followed by 4500 IU po once/day. If vomiting or malabsorption is present or xerophthalmia is probable, a dose of 50,000 IU for infants < 6 mo, 100,000 IU for infants 6 to 12 mo, or 200,000 IU for children > 12 mo and adults should be given for 2 days, with a third dose at least 2 wk later. The same doses are recommended for infants and children with complicated measles. Infants born of HIV-positive mothers should receive 50,000 IU (15,000 RAE) within 48 h of birth. Prolonged daily administration of large doses, especially to infants, must be avoided because toxicity may result.

For pregnant or breastfeeding women, prophylactic or therapeutic doses should not exceed 10,000 IU (3000 RAE)/day to avoid possible damage to the fetus or infant.

VITAMIN B1

Importance to the Body:

Protects the heart and the nervous system from the build-up of toxic substances and is needed to convert carbohydrates and fats into energy.
Sources of Food:

Lean meats particularly pork, fortified bread and cereals, whole grains, dried beans, potatoes, spinach, nuts, peas, yeast.
Symptoms of deficiency:

Tiredness and fatigue, muscle weakness, nerve damage, confusion, enlarged heart. More common in alcoholics.

Treatment

Supplemental thiamin, with dose based on clinical manifestations

Ensuring that dietary supplies of thiamin are adequate is important regardless of symptoms.

Because IV glucose can worsen thiamin deficiency, alcoholics and others at risk of thiamin deficiency should receive IV thiamin 100 mg before receiving IV glucose solutions.

The thiamin dose is.

·         For mild polyneuropathy: 10 to 20 mg po once/day for 2 wk

·         For moderate or advanced neuropathy: 20 to 30 mg/day, continued for several weeks after symptoms disappear

·         For edema and congestion due to cardiovascular beriberi: 100 mg IV once/day for several days

Heart failure is also treated.

VITAMIN B2

Importance to the Body:

Vital for growth, the production of red blood cells and releasing energy from food.
Sources of Food:

poultry, lean meat, eggs, milk, fish, yoghurt, yeast, soy beans, legumes, almonds, leafy green vegetables and fortified breads and cereals.
Symptoms of deficiency:

Skin disorders, dry and cracked lips, bloodshot eyes and sore throat, although B2 deficiency is not common in the developed world.

Treatment

Vitamin B2 deficiency can be cured by the oral intake of the recommended dosage of health supplements. An overdose can lead to orange urine. It can also cause reactions like itching, numbness, burning, or a pricking feeling.

VITAMIN B3

Importance to the Body:

Maintains a healthy skin and keeps the digestive system working well.
Sources of Food:

poultry, lean meat, peanuts, pulses, potatoes, milk, eggs, liver, heart, kidney, fortified breakfast cereals, broccoli, carrots, avocados, tomatoes, dates, sweet potatoes, whole grains, mushrooms.
Symptoms of deficiency:

 Skin disorders, fatigue, depression and diarrhoea.

Treatment

The recommend daily allowance (RDA) for niacin is 16 milligrams per day for men and 14 milligrams per day for women. Good sources of niacin include red meat, fish, poultry, fortified breads and cereals, and enriched pasta and peanuts.

VITAMIN C

Importance to the Body:

·         Tissue repair for scars, burns and wounds

·         Repairing damaged teeth, bones and cartilage

·         Used during the absorption of iron

·         Acts as an antioxidant to fight harmful free radicals in the body

Sources of Food:

Citrus fruits, melon, strawberries, blackcurrants, green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, kiwi fruit, potatoes, dark green leafy vegetables, red peppers, squash, mango, papaya, cauliflowe, pineapple, blueberries, raspberries and cranberries

Symptoms of Deficiency

Individuals who aren't receiving a regular amount of vitamin C from their diet or supplement need to watch out for the following signs of vitamin c deficiency:

• Dry and splitting hair
• Constant bruising
• Frequent nosebleeds
• Rough, scaly, dry skin
• Aching joints

Treatment

The primary means of treating vitamin C deficiency is by increasing a person's vitamin C intake with foods rich in vitamin C. Anyone experiencing signs of vitamin C deficiency can also take ascorbic acid tablets to remedy the problem. Some studies suggest that the levels of vitamin C can be reduced by smoking. Smokers should either quit or increase their vitamin C intake to avoid vitamin C deficiency. Individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes also have an increased vitamin C requirement.

VITAMIN D

Importance to the Body

Vitamin D plays a critical role in the body’s use of calcium and phosphorous. It works by increasing the amount of calcium absorbed from the small intestine, helping to form and maintain bones. Vitamin D benefits the body by playing a role in immunity and controlling cell growth. Children especially need adequate amounts of vitamin D to develop strong bones and healthy teeth.

Sources of Food

The primary food sources of vitamin D are milk and other dairy products fortified with vitamin D. Vitamin D is also found in oily fish (e.g., herring, salmon and sardines) as well as in cod liver oil. In addition to the vitamin D provided by food, we obtain vitamin D through our skin which produces vitamin D in response to sunlight.

Deficiency Syndrome

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency in growing children include rickets (long, soft bowed legs) and flattening of the back of the skull. Vitamin D deficiency in adults may result in osteomalacia (muscle and bone weakness), and osteoporosis (loss of bone mass).

Treatment

Standard treatment for a vitamin D deficiency is supplementation. Though it may seem like you could eat the right foods and recover, scientists have found that the level of vitamin D in most foods is too low to correct a deficiency.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic recommend supplementation with vitamin D3. They suggested a daily dose of 800 to 2,000 IU (international units). The Institute of Medicine sets the daily upper limit at 4,000 IU. If you are taking a vitamin D supplement, always take it with a meal that contains fat for best absorption.

Vitamin E

Importance to the Body

Vitamin E benefits the body by acting as an antioxidant, and protecting vitamins A and C, red blood cells, and essential fatty acids from destruction. Research from decades ago suggested that taking antioxidant supplements, vitamin E in particular, might help prevent heart disease and cancer. However, newer findings indicate that people who take antioxidant and vitamin E supplements are not better protected against heart disease and cancer than non-supplement users. Many studies show a link between regularly eating an antioxidant rich diet full of fruits and vegetables, and a lower risk for heart disease, cancer, and several other diseases. Essentially, recent research indicates that to receive the full benefits of antioxidants and phytonutrients in the diet, one should consume these compounds in the form of fruits and vegetables, not as supplements.

Sources of Food

About 60 percent of vitamin E in the diet comes from vegetable oil (soybean, corn, cottonseed, and safflower). This also includes products made with vegetable oil (margarine and salad dressing). Vitamin E sources also include fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts (almonds and hazelnuts), seeds (sunflower) and fortified cereals.

Deficiency

Vitamin E deficiency is rare. Cases of vitamin E deficiency usually only occur in premature infants and in those unable to absorb fats. Since vegetable oils are good sources of vitamin E, people who excessively reduce their total dietary fat may not get enough vitamin E.

Treatment

In order to treat Vitamin E deficiency in a person, it is first important to address the underlying cause of the condition. In case the Vitamin E deficiency is caused by poor eating habits, then doctors may just recommend dietary changes as well as a Vitamin E supplement. However, for other causes, different treatment options, such as medication or therapy may be required.

VITAMIN K

Importance to the Body

Vitamin K is naturally produced by the bacteria in the intestines, and plays an essential role in normal blood clotting, promoting bone health, and helping to produce proteins for blood, bones, and kidneys.

Sources of Food

Good food sources of vitamin K are green, leafy-vegetables such as turnip greens, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli, and certain vegetables oils including soybean oil, cottonseed oil, canola oil and olive oil. Animal foods, in general, contain limited amounts of vitamin K.

Deficiency

Without sufficient amounts of vitamin K, hemorrhaging can occur. Vitamin K deficiency may appear in infants or in people who take anticoagulants, such as Coumadin (warfarin), or antibiotic drugs. Newborn babies lack the intestinal bacteria to produce vitamin K and need a supplement for the first week. Those on anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners) may become vitamin K deficient, but should not change their vitamin K intake without consulting a physician. People taking antibiotics may lack vitamin K temporarily because intestinal bacteria are sometimes killed as a result of long-term use of antibiotics. Also, people with chronic diarrhea may have problems absorbing sufficient amounts of vitamin K through the intestine and should consult their physician to determine if supplementation is necessary.

Treatment

Whenever possible, phytonadione should be given po or sc. The usual adult dose is 1 to 20 mg. (Rarely, even when phytonadione is correctly diluted and given slowly, IV replacement can result in anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reactions.) INR usually decreases within 6 to 12 h. The dose may be repeated in 6 to 8 h if INR has not decreased satisfactorily. Phytonadione 1 to 10 mg po is indicated for nonemergency correction of a prolonged INR in patients taking anticoagulants. Correction usually occurs within 6 to 8 h. When only partial correction of INR is desirable (eg, when INR should remain slightly elevated because of a prosthetic heart valve), lower doses (eg, 1 to 2.5 mg) of phytonadione can be given.

In infants, bleeding due to deficiency can be corrected by giving phytonadione 1 mg sc or IM once. The dose is repeated if INR remains elevated. Higher doses may be necessary if the mother has been taking oral anticoagulants.