B.5.1 Outline the difference between micronutrients and macronutrients
- macronutrients are structural and energy-giving caloric components of foods, including carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
- micronutrients are vitamins, minerals, trace elements, phytochemicals, and antioxidants essential for good health
- vitamins are organic compounds and used in hormone formation, as a cofactor in enzymes, and in blood cells, the nervous system, and genetic material
B.5.2 Compare the structures of retinol (vitamin A), calciferol (vitamin D), and ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Vitamin A:
Vitamin C:
Vitamin D:
Vitamin A:
- 1 hydroxyl (OH) group
- long polyene chain
- has small polar components but is overall non-polar so it's fat-soluble and not water-soluble
Vitamin C:
- 4 hydroxyl groups
- an ester within the ring
- polar because of the multiple -OH groups and thus is water-soluble
Vitamin D:
- 1 hydroxyl group
- some alkene groups
- has small polar components but overall non-polar due to carbon chains and cyclocarbons and therefore fat-soluble
B.5.3 Deduce whether a vitamin is water or fat-soluble from its nature
- fat soluble vitamins are hydrophobic, with long hydrocarbon chains, and very few -OH
- e.g.) vitamins A, D, E, F, K
- water soluble vitamins are hydrophilic, with shorter hydrocarbon chains, and many -OH or other polar groups
- e.g.) vitamin C
B.5.4 Discuss the causes and effects of nutrient deficiencies in different countries and suggest solutions
Micronutrient deficiencies include:
Macronutrient deficiencies include:
Solutions include:
Micronutrient deficiencies include:
- iron - anemia
- iodine - goitre
- retinol (vitamin A) - night blindness, xerophthalmia
- niacin (vitamin B3) - pellagra
- thiamin (vitamin B1) - beriberi
- ascorbic acid (vitamin C) - scurvy
- calciferol (vitamin D) - rickets
Macronutrient deficiencies include:
- protein - marasmus and kwashiorkor
Solutions include:
- providing food rations that are composed of fresh and vitamin and mineral-rich foods
- adding nutrients missing in commonly consumed foods
- genetic modification of food
- providing nutritional supplements
- providing selenium supplements to people eating foods grown in selenium-poor soil