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Vitamin Assignment

  1. What is a vitamin?
  2. What do B vitamins have in common?
  3. What is “enrichment” and what is “fortified?”

File in the chart

Thiamin riboflavinniacin

Chief functions
Deficiency symptoms
Food sources

Fat soluble vitamins

Vitamin A

1.What is beta-carotene?

2.What are 3 functions of preformed vitamin A?

3.Explain the connection between vitamin A and vision?

4.How serious is vitamin A toxicity?

5.What is an antioxidant?

6.What are 3 major food sources of preformed vitamin A and 3 food sources of beta-carotene?

Vitamin D

1. Why is vitamin D called the sunshine vitamin? Can this process of vitamin D production produce toxic quantities?

2.What diseases are caused by vitamin D deficiency in children and in adults?

3.What are 2 sources of vitamin D in a diet? What could a vegan do in a cloudy climate such as Seattle to get adequate vitamin D?

Vitamin K

1.What is vitamin K’s primary role in the body? What conditions may lead to vitamin k deficiency?

Vitamin B6

  1. What role does vitamin B6 have in protein metabolism?
  2. What are good animal sources of B6? Good plant sources?

Folate

  1. What is the function of folate? Which cells in the body are most vulnerable to deficiency?
  2. What are good food sources of folate?

Vitamin B12

  1. What is the major source of B12 in our food?
  2. How can vegans get B12 in their diet?
  3. What are the major functions of B12?
  4. What is “intrinsic factor? What type of anemia is caused by lack of this factor?

Vitamin C

1.What are the primary sources of vitamin C?

2.What are some functions of vitamin C?

3.Deficiency causes what problems? Why do smokers need more vitamin C than nonsmokers?

4.Can vitamin C be toxic?

Vitamin E

1.Describe vitamin E’s role as an antioxidant. What are the chief symptoms of deficiency?