Page 37 - 86 human physiology part-2

Chapter 13

sprouts. Also found
vegetable oils such as
soybean, canola,
cottonseed, and olive.
Additionally, the
normal flora of the
large intestine produce
vitamin K, which our
body is able to absorb
and use
Found in many
vegetables including,
broccoli, peas, Coenzyme needed for Megaloblastic
Folic acid asparagus, spinach, production of hemoglobin and anemia, spina May mask B12
deficiency
green leafy types. formation of DNA. bifida
Also found in fresh
fruit, liver and yeast.
Found in meat, fish, Vitamin B12 is needed to make
B12 eggs and milk but not red blood cells. Supplements Pernicious Unknown
in vegetables. can help some types of anemia. anemia
Rare to be
deficient,
B6 convulsions,
(pyridoxine Found in cereals, Vitamin B6 is a coenzyme in vomiting, Insomnia,
amino acid synthesis.
neuropathy
yeast, liver, and fish.
) seborrhea,
muscular
weakness

Fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K

With fat soluble vitamins you need the presence of fat in your diet to absorb them, this is because
the bile will not be secreted to help with emulsification and therefore the fat vitamins will not be
broken down for absorption. Fat soluble vitamins are stored in organs such as the liver, spleen, and
other fatty tissues in the body. Because of this excessive amounts of fat-soluble vitamins can
accumulate in the body resulting in toxicity, but this rarely comes form excessive dietary intake but
rather form improper use of vitamin supplements.

Minerals

Minerals are atoms of certain chemical elements that are essential for body processes. Minerals are
inorganic, meaning that they are not man-made. They are either produced by our body, or we obtain
them by eating certain foods that contain them. They are ions found in blood plasma and cell
cytoplasm, such as sodium, potassium, and chloride. In addition, minerals represent much of the
chemical composition of bones (calcium, phosphorus, oxygen). They also contribute to nerve and
muscle activity (sodium, potassium, calcium). Minerals serve several many other functions as well.
There are 21 minerals considered essential for our bodies. Nine of the essential minerals in the body
account for less than .01% of your body weight. Because of the small amount of these minerals that our
body needs, we call them trace minerals. The 12 most important minerals and their functions are listed

252 | Human Physiology