Antioxidants

Saturday, December 9, 2017 2:32 PM

Free radicals: a very reactive atom with unpaired electrons in its outer shell
They cause damage by attacking lipids in the cell membranes and lipoproteins, DNA, RNA,
body proteins causing damage and greater risk for disease. Vitamin Antioxidants come in
donate one electron to pair with the unpaired electron of the radical, neutralizing its
damaging effects. Mineral antioxidants activate enzymes that reduce the production of free
radicals.

Precursor: a compound that can be converted into an active vitamin

Vitamin A: fat-soluble; three different forms
• Retinol:
○ foods derived from animals;
Retinoids= collective name
retinyl esters
• Retinal
• Retinoic acid
Foods derived from plants provide carotenoids:
1. Beta-Carotene; biggest vitamin A precursor; split to form retinal
Beta carotene acts as an antioxidant.
2. Alpha-carotene
3. Beta-cryptoxanthin
4. Lycopene: prevents cancer; prostate cancer; no vitamin A
5. Lutein: no vitA
6. Zeaxanthin: no vitA
600 carotenoids in nature; only 50 in food

• Retinol to retinal= reversible

• Retinal to retinoic= irreversible

Vitamin A absorbed by the lymph system; stored in the liver

Retinol-binding protein (RBP) picks up retinol from the liver and carries it around in the blood

Vitamin A roles
• Promote vision
• Take part in protein synthesis/cell differentiation
• Support reproduction and regulate growth
 Retinol-binding protein (RBP) picks up retinol from the liver and carries it around in the blood

Vitamin A roles
• Promote vision
• Take part in protein synthesis/cell differentiation
• Support reproduction and regulate growth

Each form of vitamin A has a different function in the body

• Retinol: supports reproduction/major transport and storage of vitamin A
• Retinal: active in vision; intermediate in the conversion of retinol into retinoic acid
• Retinoic acid: acts as a hormone; regulates cell differentiation, growth and embryonic
development
Note: animals raised on only retinoic acid as their source of vitamin A can survive, but will be bl
they cant convert retinal to retinoic acid

Functions of VitA
1. Helps maintain a crystal clear cornea
2. Converts light energy into nerve impulses at retina
Retina contains the pigment rhodopsin: each one is composed of the protein opsin bonded to 1
of retinal
Light passes thru/cornea + strikes retina-> rhodopsin responds by changing shape and becomin
bleached-> retinal shifts from cis to trans configuration. Now we have a bleached trans retinal=
bonded to opsin-> it is released and opsin changes shape disturbing the cell membrane and gen
an electric impulse that travels along the cell's length, which is then transmitted to a nerve cell
conveys the message to the brain. Some of the Retinal is then converted back to the cis configu
bind to opsin and regenerate rhodopsin. Some of the trans retinal is oxidized into retinoic acid,
for vision. Visual activity leads to retinal loss which is replenished from food or from direct reti
sources.

Vitamin A takes part in protein synthesis and cell differentiation: promotes differentiaition of ep
and goblet cells I.E. RESPONSIBLE FOR COLUMNAR EPITHELIAL CELLS RELEASING NUCUS

Retinol takes part in sperm development

Vitamin A in women supports fetal development during pregnancy
Children who alck vitamin A don’t grow

First signs of vitmain A deficiency is night blindness: retina doesn’t receveive enough retinal to
regenerate the visual pignments bleached by the light-> slow recovery after bright falshes of
light/inability to see in dim lighting

DEFICIENCY
o Nightblindness (retinal)
o Bitot’s spot (retinoic acid)
o Xerophthalmia (retinoic acid) = LACK OF VITAMIN A AT FRONT OF EYE=
 lind bc

1 molcule

ng
= cant stay
nerating
that
uration to
dead end
inol

epithelial

 light/inability to see in dim lighting

DEFICIENCY
o Nightblindness (retinal)
o Bitot’s spot (retinoic acid)
o Xerophthalmia (retinoic acid) = LACK OF VITAMIN A AT FRONT OF EYE=
CORNEA=becomes dry and hard bc no vit a= no mucus= we call this xerosis which l
softening of the cornea and blindness=Keratomalacia
NO VIT A= no goblet cells releasing mucus= no mucus in GI tract= harder for nutrie
absorbed
o Keratinization leads to plugging of hair follicles

Too much beta carotene can act as a prooxidant and destroy vitamin A

Toxicity
Vitamin A has a negative effect on bone density as it supresses bone building and pr
breakdown, and interferes with vit D regulating blood calcium
Vit A can also cause neural tube defects

SOURCES
o Richest sources is animal derived - liver fish liver oil milk milk products eggs
NOTE: vit A= fat soluble= lost in skim milk= they are fortified in this case
o Margarine is also fortified to have same vitA content as butter
o Plants= no retinoids= carotenoids instead (Red/yellow pigments of plants). Basical
carotene is the best source but bioavailabity depends on the presence of fat, so if yo
salad it is best to eat it with regular dressign ratehr than reduced fat dressing to inc
the bioavailability of beta carotene (no absorption occurs if you use fat free dressin

COLORS
Vitamin A rich foods
o Dark leafy greens i.e. spinach= still have beta carotene but also have chlorophyll which masks t
o Rich yellow/deep orange veggies i.e carrots, squash, sweet potato

Others (non vitA) rich

o Beets/corn have xanthophylls
o Potatoes, cauliflower, pasta and rice

Vitamin E- alpha-tocopherol
• Fat soluble antioxidant; one of bodys primary defender against free radicals
leads to

ents to be

romotes

lly, beta-
ou eat a
crease
ng)

the color
o Beets/corn have xanthophylls
o Potatoes, cauliflower, pasta and rice

Vitamin E- alpha-tocopherol
• Fat soluble antioxidant; one of bodys primary defender against free radicals
• Main action: stop free radicals from making MORE free radicals
• Prevents oxidation of the polyunsaturated FA and protects vitamin A
• Prevents heart disease by preventing the oxidation of LDL and reduces inflammation
• Deficiencies of vit E don’t exist its usually just due to fat malabsporption like cystic fibrosi
• No vitamin E= RBC burst open and release their contents bc the polunsaturated fatty acid
membran undergo oxidation= we call this erythrocyte hemolysis and it results in erythroc
anemia: too little RBCs= vitamin E treatment corrects this-> in prematue infants
• Prolonged deficiency= nerve damage
• Too much vitamin K can interfere with the blood clotting action of vitamin K
• Someone who consumes more polyunsaturated fats needs MORE vitamin E; however, vit
and polyunsaturated fats are found in the same foods
• Sources: vegetable oils and its derivatives i.e. margarine;salad dressings
○ Wheat germ oil is richest source of vitamin E
• It is destroyed by heat processing and oxidation= fresh/lightly processed foods are best s
• Alpha tocopherol from tocopherol values = multiply by 0.8

Vitamin C
• Ascorbic acid: one of the active forms of vitamin C
• Loses electrons easily= acts like antioxidant which defend against free radicals
• Oxidative stress: production in which the production of oxidants and free radicals exceed
bodys ability to handle and prevent them
○ Vitmain c protects against this
• In the intestines, vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron by preventing the oxidation o
• Vitamin C helps form the fibrous structural proteins of the connective tissues collagen= co
• Cold= runny/blocked nose due to the elevated level of hsitamine in the blood= vitamin c
antihistamine and deactivates it
• Plays a role in amino acid metabolism
• RDA=
○ men=90mg
○ Women=75mg
• Smokers: smoke contains oxidants that greedily deplete the antioxidant vitamin C and ca
oxidative stress= additional 35mg to RDA
• Best sources= raw veggies and fruits bc o2 and heat destroy
• Deficiency= scurvy/ woudns don’t heal bc no collagen and teeth become loose/anemia co
occur/ can act as a prooxidant (produce too many radicals)
Anthocyanins
• Are a group of natural occurring pigments belonging to the flavonoid family
• Responsible for red-blue color of many fruits vegetable
is
ds in the
cyte

tamin E

sources

ds the

of iron
cofactor
acts as an

auses

ould
• Best sources= raw veggies and fruits bc o2 and heat destroy
• Deficiency= scurvy/ woudns don’t heal bc no collagen and teeth become loose/anemia co
occur/ can act as a prooxidant (produce too many radicals)
Anthocyanins
• Are a group of natural occurring pigments belonging to the flavonoid family
• Responsible for red-blue color of many fruits vegetable
• Largest group of water-soluble plant pigments

Anthocyanins
• Are a group of natural occurring pigments belonging to the flavonoid family
• Responsible for red-blue color of many fruits vegetable
Largest group of water-soluble plant

Beets example à huge number of varieties of Anthocyanins give blueberries t

extra help etc.
ould

there