Vitamin Supplements

Vitamin B12 and folate are two more vitamins which are associated with the prevention and cure of certain types of anaemia. Both vitamins have fairly complex structures. B12 is the name given to a group of cobalamins, and folate is formed from a pteroic acid. B12 is only found in animal tissues and cannot be supplied in a diet of fruit and vegetables but folate is abundant in green, leafy vegetables, and the name folate, folic acid or folacin refers to its source in foliage. (Folium = leaf in Latin.)

There are various types of anaemia, but all forms of the disease can be described as a lack of sufficient red cells capable of carrying oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. In the last section we saw how important pyridoxine can be in helping to form the protein structure of haemoglobin. Iron is also needed and must be supplied in the diet. Read the rest of this entry »

During the formation of niacin from tryptophan yet another vitamin is needed and again it acts as a coenzyme. This is vitamin B6 and it is given the name pyridoxine. Of all the vitamins this is probably the greatest worker and it takes part in over sixty different metabolic reactions.

As we saw in the descriptions of NAD and FAD many coenzymes are involved in the transference of single atoms from one substance to another. Many reactions in the body require a greater change to take place and whole groups of atoms may be transferred between molecules. Read the rest of this entry »

This is another borderline case which can be a medical or self help condition. Knowing whether or not you are anaemic requires a blood test which shows how much iron, as haemoglobin, you have in the red cells of the blood. Ideally it should be at a level of 14 mg per 100 ml of blood but many women have less than this amount, particularly after childbirth or heavy menstrual periods. Iron tablets may be recommended by the doctor for a short time to build up the iron in the blood but the long-term prospects should rest on correcting the diet. Unfortunately iron is not very ‘available’ in the foods we eat. This means that although we may eat plenty of iron in our meat, liver, kidney, eggs and fish it is poorly absorbed from the intestine. Read the rest of this entry »

Iodine [Iodide]

FACTS:

Two-thirds of the body’s iodine is in the thyroid gland.

Since the thyroid gland controls metabolism, and iodine influences the thyroid, an under-supply of this mineral can result in slow mental reaction, weight gain, and lack of energy.

The RDA, as established by the National Research Council, is 80 to 150 mcg. for adults [1 mcg. per kilogram of body weight] and 125 to 150 mcg. for pregnant and lactating women respectively. Read the rest of this entry »

Cobalt

FACTS:

A mineral that is part of vitamin B12.

Usually measured in micrograms [mcg.].

Essential for red blood cells.

Must be obtained from food sources.

No daily allowance has been set for this mineral, and only very small amounts are necessary in the diet [usually no more than 8 mcg.]. Read the rest of this entry »