Question

Question 1: Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin and vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin are both essential in our diets, but they're very different in many ways. Compare these vitamins and discuss three ways in which they differ, giving specific examples for each difference. You will need to defend your answer using specific facts, data, and other information drawn from the textbook and at least one other supplemental source. Boyd is very overweight, smokes and is on a high protein weight loss diet for the past three months that limits certain vegetables and restricts fruits and dairy. The supplement suggested for this diet upsets his stomach, so he doesn't take it. Lately he's been feeling very fatigued and has noticed that when he brushes his teeth, his gums bleed and he has weird little red spots on his arms. Any little scratch takes a long time to heal and frequently become infected. Fearing something serious like cancer, Boyd makes an appointment with his physician for an examination. Physical examination and blood test results show that Boyd is suffering from a vitamin deficiency. Question 2: Based on Boyd's symptoms, determine which vitamin is most likely deficient, and explain how deficiency causes the symptoms. Include in your answer the vitamin functions that are compromised. Support your answer with data, facts, key terminology, specific examples and other information drawn from the textbook and at least one other supplemental source.

Answer 1

Vitamins D and C play a vital promoting strong bones and tissues. Found to prevent serious diseases in adult life or even minor ailments.

Vitamin D helps us in calcium and phosphorous absorption. These minerals are important in the formation of bones and teeth and also play a role in cell reproduction, muscle flexing and regulation of the heartbeat.

Vitamin C needed for repair and replenishment of damaged tissues.

Vitamin D helps to keep your bones dense and strong, and can repair fractured bone parts. In children, it prevents rickets. In adults, reduces the risk of osteoporosis, hypertension, or high blood pressure, and ailments of the autoimmune system.

Vitamin C plays major part of body's healing processes. It helps to produce collagen, which builds skin, ligaments and a variety of other essential tissues. It lowers the risk of anemia by aiding in the absorption of iron. In addition, it is an antioxidant which assists in protecting your body from the harmful effects of free radicals, waste products which occur when food is converted into energy.

Vitamin D in most dairy products and in fish. Body can manufacture its own by exposing yourself to sunshine; 15 minutes of sun, 3 times a week, will give all the vitamin D we need.

Vitamin C is present in various quantities in all fruit and vegetables, but rich sources are tomatoes, peppers, greens and the popular varieties of berry.

Moreover Boyd symptoms shows that he is suffering from the Vitamin C deficiency. As he is smoker automatically have higher levels of oxidative stress. Smoking also causes inflammation and damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, and lungs.

Although fruits and vegetables are the best sources of vitamin C, many other foods have small amounts of this nutrient. Thus, through a varied diet, one must be able to meet the vitamin C RDA or at least obtain enough to prevent scurvy. People who have limited food variety including some elderly, indigent individuals who prepare their own food; people who abuse alcohol or drugs; food faddists; people with mental illness; and, occasionally, children might not obtain sufficient vitamin C

Vitamin C is necessary for healthy mucosa and helps reduce inflammation, so the NIH recommend that smokers consume an extra 35 mg of vitamin C each day.