HLTH 230 Study Guide - Retinol Binding Protein, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Deficiency

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Health Studies
• Course: HLTH 230
• Professor: Jeffery Lalonde

Document Summary

A, d, e, k: fat soluble vitamins require bile for absorption, they travel through the lymphatic system on absorption before entering the blood stream. Many fat soluble vitamins require protein carrier for transport in the bloodstream: excesses are stored in the liver and adipose tissue. Body maintains blood concetration by getting fat soluble vitamins from storage as needed. People can go without their needed amount for days as long as average intake meets their needs: toxicity is more likely because of their storage and because they are not readily excreted. Vitamin a: precursor is beta carotene. Vitamin a has 3 active forms: retinoids. Foods from animals can provide retinyl esters which can be digested and absorbed into retinol in the intestine. Cells can convert retinol and retinal to other active forms of vitamin a as needed. Conversion from retinol and retinal is reversible. Irreversible change is important because each form of vitamin a has unique function.