VITAMIN- A

M.Prasad Naidu
MSc Medical Biochemistry, Ph.D,.

VITAMIN- A
Structure
6C beta-ionine ring with 11C polyprenoid side chain with
alternate double bonds.

Provitaminbeta carotene [Retinal+Retinal]
Active forms 1.Retinol
2.Retinal
3.Retinoic acid
CH
3
CH
3 H
3
C
CH
3
CH
2
OH
CH
3
VITAMIN A (RETINOL)
RDA: 0.7 mg
Poly isoprenoid side chain

VITAMIN A
Retinol Retinal retinoicacid All-trans Retinal A
1

common in circulation.

11cis- Retinal form is present in rhodopsin.

Active forms are heat stable and light sensitive.
VITAMIN A
Sources
Animal marine fish liver oils
Plant - mango\papaya\carrot

RDA 1000 ug \ day

1 RE = 1ug of retinol = 0.6 ug of betacarotene
VITAMIN A
.
FUNTIONS
1. Retinal and Retinol vision
2. Retinoic acid
cell differentiation
glycoprotein synthesis
reproduction.
3.Beta-carotene- Anti-oxidant


WALDS VISUAL CYCLE
The Cyclic events that occur in the process
of vision is visual cycle. .
Rhodopsin is a photoreceptor present in
retinal rod cells.
Rhodopsin is a conjugated protein with 11-cis
retinal and protein opsin.
FUNCTIONS OF VIT A
WALDS
VISUAL CYCLE
DEFECIENCY

primary causes [dietary]
secondarycauses[malabsorption]
Results in
Night blindness
Conjunctival xerosis
Bitots spots
Corneal xerosis
keratomalasia
Blindness
.
Toxicity of vit-A is either due to
1. over-dosage of vit-A supplements
2. excess dietary intake [
As vitamin A is not excreted from the body it
isccumulated in liver producing toxic
effects
Toxicity produces headache , nausea , vomitings
, liver damage alterations in the skin and mucous
membranes etc.

.
Vit-A can be used to treat diseases where
epithelial surface is damaged.

Retinoic acid acts on cell differentiation and
growth therefore used as a drug.

It is used to treat diseases like Measles,
Acne, Psoriasis , Leukemia etc.

VISUAL CYCLE
meta-rhodopsin
Transducin Transducin [A]

PDE PDE [A]

CGMP GMP
VISUAL CYCLE
Decreased CGMP

closes Na
+
channels in rod cell membrane

hyper polarization of rod cell membrane

generation of nerve impulse to visual cortex


VITAMIN D
Structure

plants - Ergosterol Ergocalciferol [D
2
]

Active form in animals is calcitriol


UV
VITAMIN D
Sources
1. sunlight
2. animal sources; fish liver oils \ eggs
3. plant sources
4. food fortification ; milk\ butter

RDA
200-400 IU \ day
VITAMIN D
Digestion \ absorption \ transport
Digested and absorbed in small intestine
using bile salts .
Vit-D is transported from intestine to
circulation by chylomicrons and stored in the
liver.
VITAMIN D
Synthesis of vit-D
Regulation of synthesis by Ca and PO
4
.
Low calcium stimulates PTH secretion which
activates 1- hydroxylase


FUNCTIONS
Vit-D plays a major role in regulation of calcium
and phosphate levels by mainly acting on 3
different organs.

Intestine ; increases absorption of Ca and PO
4


Bone ; increases deposition of CaPO
4
thus
increasing mineralization of bones .

Kidneys ; reabsorbs Ca and decreases Ca
excretion.
VITAMIN D
Deficiency
Children ---Rickets
Adults ------ Osteomalacia
VITAMIN D
Toxicity
hyper-vitaminosis D causes toxic effects
like de-mineralization , hyper-calcemia ,
renal calculi etc.



ABSORPTION AND TRANSPORT
IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA
Laboratory findings
Hypochromic microcytic
anemia
ferritin ( 30 to 300
Nanogm/ml)
serum iron (50 to175 gm/dl)
TIBC (300 to 350 gm/dl)
transferrin (200 to 400 mg/dl)

Spoon-shaped nails (koilonychia)
Dental fluorosis
THANK Q