Download Discuss the causes and effects of nutrient deficiencies in different

Ian DeLaCruz
Kevin Chung
Dan Ipaktchi
Melinda Disharoon
Outline the difference between
micronutrients and macronutrients
Macronutrients vs. Micronutrients
Found in relatively
large amounts
(>0.005% of body
weight)
 Provides energy
 Ex. Na, Mg, K, Ca, P,
S and Cl

Found in small
amounts (<0.005% of
body weight)
 Acts as a co-factor of
enzymes
 Ex. Fe,Cu, F, Zn, I,
Se, Mn, Mo, Cr, Co
and B

Compare the structures of
retinol (vitamin A), calciferol (vitamin D),
and ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Retinol (Vitamin A)

Yellow, fat soluble subtance
 Molecular Formula- C20H30O
 Molar Mass- 286.4516 g mol−1
 Chemical name
(2E,4E,6E,8E)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6trimethylcyclohex-1-enyl)nona-2,4,6,8tetraen-1-ol
○ Chemical doesn’t need to be learned
Retinol (Vitamin A)
Only 1 hydroxyl group
 Long polyalkene chain
 Carbon ring and chain are non-polar

 Influence solubulity more than OH group

Overall non-polar
 Doesn’t dissolve in water
 Fat soluble

Important for vision, particularly at low light
intensity
Retinol (Vitamin A)
Calciferol (Vitamin D)

White powdery crystalline
 Molecular Formula- C27H44O
 Molar Mass- 384.64 g/mol
○ Chemical name
(3β,5Z,7E)-9,10-secocholesta-5,7,10(19)trien-3-ol
Calciferol (Vitamin D)
4 Hydrocarbon rings and alkane chain
are non-polar
 Only 1 hydroxyl group
 Overall non-polar


Stimulates uptake of calcium ions by
cells
 Important in health of teeth and bones
Calciferol (Vitamin D)
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)

White/Yellow solid
 Molecular Formula- C6H8O6
 Molar Mass- 176.12 g mol−1
○ Chemical name
5R)-[(1S)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-3,4dihydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
4 hydroxyl groups
 Several OH groups enable oxygen bonds to
form with water
 Ester bond within the ring
 Polar due to hydroxyl groups

 Easily dissolvable in water
Cofactor in some enzyme reactions
 Important in tissue regeneration after injury
 Helps give resistance to some diseases

Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
Deduce whether a vitamin is
water- or fat- soluble from its structure
Fat soluble
Relatively non-polar
 Consist mainly of hydrocarbons
 Remember:

 All Dogs Eat Kibbles
Water soluble
Have a high proportion of
electronegative atoms
 Water-Soluble Vitamins

 B and C
Fat vs. water soluble

Water soluble
 Excess of the vitamin will come out in urine

Fat soluble
 Can cause sickness because it is stored in
the body and not easily released
Vitamin A

Overall non-polar
 not water soluble
 Fat soluble

Consists mostly of
hydrocarbons
Vitamin D

Overall non-polar
 Not water soluble
 Fat soluble

Consists mostly of
hydrocarbons
Vitamin C

Polar
 Water soluble

Hydroxyl group
makes it overall
electronegative
Discuss the causes and effects of nutrient
deficiencies in different countries and
suggest solutions
Malnutrition

What causes malnutrition?
 Lack of distribution of global resources
 Depletion of nutrients in the soil and water cultures
through soil erosion
 Lack of education about, or understanding of the
importance of a balanced diet
 Over-processing food for transport and storage
 Chemically treating foods during production
Micronutrient deficiencies

Anemia: iron deficiency
 Necessary in binding oxygen to RBCs
 Leads to hypoxia across the organ systems
 Symptoms: skin and eyes begin to yellow, low blood pressure
and muscular weakness, shortness of breath and dizziness

Treatment: eat cereal flours and milk products fortified
with iron
 Red meats, fish, poultry, lentils
 Some fruits contain iron: green beans, potatoes, spinach, etc.
Micronutrient deficiencies

Goitre: iodine deficiency
 Iodine is necessary in thyroxine, which regulate basal
metabolic rates
 Swelling of the thyroid gland
 Can lead to swelling of the neck
○ Large goitres will result in difficulty with breathing and
swallowing
 Can lead to mental retardation in children

Treatment: seafood and some vegetables contain
iodine
 Iodized salt is specifically made to prevent having an
iodine deficiency
Micronutrient deficiencies

Xerophthalmia: Vitamin A deficiency
 The eye fails to produce tears
 Leads to a dry conjunctiva, and can lead to corneal
ulceration, night blindness, or blindness from corneal
damage

Treatment: Vitamin A is fat-soluble, fatty staples
such as margarine can be fortified
 Sweet potatoes, carrots, dark leafy greens, and some
squashes and melons are high in Vitamin A
Micronutrient deficiencies

Pellagra: niacin (Vitamin B3) deficiency
 Niacin is a precursor to NADH and NADPH, which are
essential in cell metabolism
 Four main indicators: diarrhea, dementia, dermatitis, and
death
○ Death occurs after 4-5 years if left untreated

Kashin-Beck disease: selenium deficiency
 Symptoms: atrophy and degeneration of cartilage
 Occurs in northern Russia and China where soil is
selenium-deficient
Micronutrient deficiencies

Rickets: Vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorus, or
calcium deficiency
 All are necessary for bone formation/maintenance
 Leads to bone fractures/deformity
○ Bone pain/tenderness
○ Skeletal deformities and dental problems
○ Muscle weakness and growth disturbances

Scurvy: ascorbic acid deficiency
 Ascorbic acid is necessary to synthesize collagen
 Symptoms: dark-spotted skin, bleeding gums, lowered
resistance to infection
 Can result in neuropathy or death
Micronutrient deficiencies

Beriberi: thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency
 Thiamine is used in breaking down glucose
 Symptoms: severe lethargy, complications to
cardiovascular, nervous, muscular, and GI systems,
weight loss, swollen limbs

Kwashiorkor: protein deficiency
 Disease afflicting malnourished children
 Symptoms: swollen feet, enlarged abdomen, thinning hair,
dermatitis
 Afflicted individuals cannot produce antibodies and can
have lasting impacts on physical and mental growth, and
can lead to death
Macronutrient deficiencies

Kwashiorkor: protein deficiency
 Disease afflicting malnourished children
 Symptoms: swollen feet, enlarged abdomen, thinning hair,
dermatitis
 Afflicted individuals cannot produce antibodies and can
have lasting impacts on physical and mental growth, and
can lead to death

Marasmus: protein deficiency
 Found in infants when weaning or when a mother’s milk is
reduced
 Symptoms: failure to gain weight followed by weight loss
and emaciation
Solutions

Add nutrients to their diets
 Can be done through genetic modification to foods
 Provide foods rich in vitamins and minerals
 Fortify staple foods with micronutrients
 Provide nutritional supplements in a variety of forms
 Educate about balanced diets and the importance of
personal responsibility in dietary choices
Genetically modified foods?

Genetically modified foods is controversial. People
dislike that the food is being changed genetically,
as it is “unnatural”, even though they are usually
beneficial:
 Pros
○ Products can last longer and can be grown in harsher
environments/conditions
○ Products contain more nutrients, or nutrients they do not
naturally contain
 Cons
○ Possibility of people having allergic reactions (allergenicity)
○ May have different effects on human health