What are Vititmans and minerals to us?

    Vitamin

         A

1. What is its function in the body?

- Vitamin C helps normal vision, the immune system, reproduction, and growth and development.

2. How does it perform its function?

-Vitamin A from food is stored in the liver until required by the body and is bound to protein before being transported to where it is needed.

3. What happens to the body if you do not get enough, and or too much?

-Too much Vitamin C may increase the risk of hip fractures, liver abnormalities, and birth defects. 

-Too little can cause of childhood blindness deficiency is an eye condition called xerophthalmia.

4. What is the RDA for it?

900 mcg RAE for men, 700 mcg RAE for women.

     Beta Carotene

1. What is its function in the body?

-Beta-carotene is an antioxidant. It protects the body from damaging molecules called free radicals. 

2. How does it perform its function?

-One way in which beta-carotene can be converted to vitamin A is to break it apart at the center and is thought to be most important biologically. The breakdown of beta-carotene occurs in the walls of the small intestine (intestinal mucosa) and is catalyzed by the enzyme β-carotene dioxygenase to form retinal

3. What happens to the body if you do not get enough, and or too much?

-tvery high doses (33,000 to 50,000 tU a day) may increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers, 

-night blindness, fatigue, skin issues, and a weakened immune system

4. What is the RDA for it?

6 to 15 milligrams (mg)

Niacin

1. What is its function in the body?

-Niacin is a B vitamin that's made and used by your body to turn food into energy.

2. How does it perform its function?

-helps convert food into energy by aiding enzymes. Specifically, niacin is a major component of NAD and NADP.

3. What happens to the body if you do not get enough, and or too much?

-deficiency of Niacin leads to pellagra, a condition that causes a dark, sometimes scaly rash to develop on skin areas exposed to sunlight, and constipation/diarrhea.

- high doses of 500 mg/day or more, nicotinamide can cause diarrhea, easy bruising, and can increase bleeding from wounds.

4. What is the RDA for it?

-is 16 mg for men, 14 mg for women.

Vitamin B6

1. What is its function in the body?

-Vitamins B6 is important for normal brain development and for keeping the nervous system and immune system healthy.

2. How does it perform its function?

- It performs the function by turning food into energy and helping to create neurotransmitters.

3. What happens to the body if you do not get enough, and or too much?

-high doses in some multis are harmless. But more than 100 milligrams (mg) a day of B-6 can cause (reversible) neurological damage.

-Not having enough can cause anemia, itchy rashes, scaly skin on the lips, cracks at the corners of the mouth, and a swollen tongue. 

4. What is the RDA for it?

Folate

1. What is its function in the body?

- Folate helps to form DNA and RNA and is involved in protein metabolism.

2. How does it perform its function?

Folate helps to form DNA and RNA and is involved in protein metabolism. It plays a key role in breaking down homocysteine, an amino acid that can exert harmful effects in the body if it is present in high amounts.

3. What happens to the body if you do not get enough, and or too much?

-Getting too little folate can result in megaloblastic anemia, a blood disorder that causes weakness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, headache, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath

 A high folate intake can mask vitamin B-12 deficiency until its neurological effects become irreversible

4. What is the RDA for it?

 Men and women 400 mcg 

Vitamin        B12

1. What is its function in the body?

Vitamin B12 is needed to form red blood cells and DNA.

2. How does it perform its function?

-Vitamin B12 binds to the protein in the foods we eat. In the stomach, hydrochloric acid and enzymes unbind vitamin B12 into its free form.

3. What happens to the body if you do not get enough, and or too much?

-B-12 deficiency can cause irreversible nerve damage may masquerade as Aizheimer's disease.

-High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause: Headache. Nausea and vomiting.

4. What is the RDA for it?

-2.4 micrograms

Biotin

1.What is its function in the body?

-Your body needs biotin to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids, the building blocks of protein

2. How does it perform its function?

-Because it is water-soluble, any excess amount will leave through the urine

3. What happens to the body if you do not get enough, and or too much?

-you may experience a stomach ache, difficulty sleeping, or excessive thirst or urination. 

-Biotin deficiency can cause thinning hair and loss of body hair; a rash around the eyes, nose, mouth, and anal area

4. What is the RDA for it?

-An RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) does not exist for biotin because there is not enough evidence to suggest a daily amount needed by most healthy people

5. Pictures of the food we eat that contains it.

Vitamin C

1. What is its function in the body?

-vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells against the effects of free radicals

2. How does it perform its function?

-It preforms by molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation from the sun, X-rays or other sources.

3. What happens to the body if you do not get enough, and or too much?

-Taking more than 1,000 mg of vitamin c may cause dierra

-Also causes Scurvy causes fatigue, inflammation of the gums, small red or purple spots on the skin, joint pain, poor wound healing, and corkscrew hairs.

4. What is the RDA for it?

-90 mg daily for men and 75 mg for women.