Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Vitamins A micronutrient

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health The Vitamins Water Soluble B group Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12) Vitamin C Found in watery foods such as vegetables, milk and meat Soluble in water Travels via the blood Not stored within the body Fat Soluble A, D, E & K Vitamins Found in fat soluble foods such as cheese, meat, eggs and yellow and green vegetables Soluble in fat Travels via the lymph system Stored in body

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Vitamins and minerals often have an interrelationship with other nutrients to help them perform their functions –e.g. Vitamin B helps release energy from carbohydrates, protein and fats –e.g. Vitamin B helps your cells rebuild the amino acids into new proteins, such as blood cells and haemoglobin

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health We need vitamins in only small quantities, but they have very important functions Vitamins are essential for many of the chemical reactions which take place within the body

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Fruit and vegetables (rich in nutrients such as vitamins) provide a protective factor for the body They help defend against dietary diseases such as cardiovascular disease, some cancers and diabetes mellitus

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Fat soluble vitamins

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Functions Vitamin A Normal vision Healthy lining cells e.g. skin, lungs Bone and teeth formation Healthy skin, hair, mucous membranes Essential in reproduction by helping to produce new cells

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Food sources Liver Cod liver oil Butter Milk, cheese Eggs Yellow, red and green leafy vegetables

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Vitamin A deficiency Night blindness – eyes cannot adapt to changes in light, causing temporary loss of sight Xerophthalmia – drying out of the eye membrane, which can lead to blindness

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Functions Vitamin D Helps absorption of calcium and phosphorus Increases deposits of calcium and phosphorus into bone Both of these functions contribute to bone growth

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Food sources Sunlight on your skin helps to manufacture Vitamin D Fish liver oils Eggs Butter, cream, margarine

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Vitamin D Deficiency Reduced absorption of calcium Rickets in children – bone deformities due to soft bones Osteomalacia in adults – ‘adult rickets’ Image source: dinf.ne.jp

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Function Vitamin E Acts as an antioxidant – substances that prevent damage to the body by free radicals –substances produced when oxygen is metabolised. An overload causes build up of cholesterol deposits in the arteries, which can cause cancer and heart disease

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Food sources Vegetable oils Wheat germ Margarine Wholegrain cereals Nuts Widespread in foods

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Function Vitamin K Enables the formation of prothrombin, a chemical which helps blood clotting

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Food sources Eggs Liver Green leafy vegetables Wholegrain cereals

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Water soluble vitamins

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Functions Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) Collagen production Assists the absorption of iron Healing wounds, protecting against injury and infection Production of hormones

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Food sources Fruits, especially citrus and blackcurrant Vegetables, example tomatoes and capsicum

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Vitamin C deficiency Swollen gums Scaly skin Poor wound healing Nose bleeds Lowered resistance to infection Scurvy – symptoms all above

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Functions thiamin (B1) Co-enzyme which helps release energy from CHO Activity of nerves Maintains heart muscle tone

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Food sources Wholegrain cereals Vegemite Pork Nuts legumes

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Thiamin (B1) deficiency Weak muscles Heart and nerve problems Fatigue Loss of appetite Beri beri – causes oedema, or swelling of body due to body fluid

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Functions riboflavin (B2) Cellular metabolism and respiration Co-enzyme which helps release energy from CHO Tissue repair

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Food sources Vegemite Cereals Milk Eggs Cheese Vegetables Nuts

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Riboflavin (B2) deficiency Cracks at corners of mouth Scabs on lips Rash on face Deficiency mainly in people with poor diets, such as alcoholics, low socio- economic status

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Functions niacin (B3) Cellular metabolism and respiration

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Food sources Liver, meat, poultry Nuts Beans and peas Vegemite Wholegrain cereals

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Niacin (B3) deficiency Skin rashes Diarrhoea fatigue Digestive abnormalities Pellagra – dermatitis, diarrhoea, dementia, death

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Functions folate (B9) Formation of DNA and RNA during growth Proper synthesis of red blood cells Especially important during pregnancy

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Food sources Liver Green leafy vegetables Nuts Eggs Wholegrain cereals Fruit Legumes and lentils

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Folate (B9) deficiency Sleeplessness Poor growth Neural tube defects in foetus, such as spina bifida

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Function Vitamin B12 Production and regeneration of red blood cells Proper functioning of the central nervous system Assists the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates Synthesis of hormones

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Food sources Liver, meat, poultry Fish Seafood Eggs Milk

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Vitamin B12 deficiency Can lead to a lower production of red blood cells, which can contribute towards the development of anaemia.