FDNS 2100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Vitamin, Vitamin A Deficiency, Vitamin D Deficiency

• School: University of Georgia
• Department: Foods and Nutrition
• Course: FDNS 2100
• Professor: Paige Berger

Document Summary

A vitamin is an essential, non-caloric, organic nutrient needed in tiny amounts in the diet. If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment, not too little not too much, we would have found the safest way to health hippocrates. Likely to remain in the body for long periods of time (i. e. , stored) Cane at less than rda for periods of time if stores are high (need periodic doses) Likely to reach toxic levels when consumed in excess (e. g. , supplements) Retinol (preformed vitamin a) retinal retinoic acid (pro-vitamin) Pro-vitamin a (precursor) = beta-carotene (orange pigment found in plants) Part of the pigment, rhodopsin that absorbs light and sends nerve impulses to the brain. In all body surfaces (skin and internal lining; gi tract, lungs, reproductive tract ) Vitamin a deficiency is a major problem in developing countries (affects >100 million children) Night blindness: slow recovery of vision after flashes of bright lights at night.