Vitamins and minerals

Essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements that are needed in tiny amounts to maintain normal health

health, growth and reproduction

Can cause severe health problems

Dietary intake or genetic diseases

Body generally doesn’t make them, so they have to be consumed

• Fat-soluble vitamins - Water-soluble vitamins

• 4 vitamins • A, D, E & K transported by lipoproteins • Should not be consumed in excess - can be toxic

Fatty tissues and the liver

• 9 vitamins - B complex and C are not stored

Excreted in urine

Eggs, milk and liver

Sun, oily fish, egg yolks, fortified margarines

Veg oils, nuts, green leafy veg, fortified cereals

Green leafy veg, some veg oils

B6: Fortified cereals, beans, meat, poultry and fish B12: Food that comes from animals fish, meat

Fruit and veg

• Hormones (vitamin d) • Antioxidants (vitamin e) • Mediate cell signalling • regulate cell and tissue growth and differentiation • Precursors for enzyme co-factors that help act as catalysts and substrates in metabolism

Molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules

Chemical reaction which transfers electrons from substance to oxidising agent

unstable, chemically reactive molecule of fragment

Antioxidants chemically eradicate free radicals

Increases potential of cellular damage

Reacting with and removing free radicals

excess vitamins function as chemicals (drugs) - causes various ilnesses and diseases