Essential Vitamins and Minerals Course

Vitamin D, or calciferol, regulates calcium to build bones and teeth and supports immunity; sun exposure activates it while dietary sources maintain levels to prevent rickets and osteomalacia.

Discover the role of vitamin b6 in nervous system function, neurotransmitter synthesis, and immunity, note anti-tb drugs as a deficiency risk, and learn sources like liver, tuna, salmon, fortified cereals.

Vitamin B7, biotin, supports the nervous system and liver metabolism and keeps hair and skin healthy, with sources like beef liver, eggs, salmon, avocados, and nuts at 30–35 mcg daily.

Zinc supports immunity, wound healing, blood clotting, thyroid function, and taste and smell. In pregnancy and fetal development, deficiency causes loss of taste or smell and poor appetite.

Regulate potassium within a narrow window to maintain intravascular and cellular fluid and blood pressure. The skin, kidneys, and GI tract regulate levels, with sources like potatoes, spinach, and dairy.

Infants exhibit unconjugated (indirect) bilirubin due to immature bilirubin conjugation enzymes, worsened by breast milk–related dehydration. Continue breastfeeding; phototherapy is used at bilirubin 20 and exchange therapy at 25.

Gluten triggers celiac disease inflammation, destroying villi and causing malabsorption in the duodenum, with dermatitis herpetiformis and antibodies (IgA anti-tTG, anti-endomysial, anti-DGP); treatment is a gluten-free diet.

Gallbladder stones develop slowly and most are symptomless. Some stones pass; many cause inflammation and pancreatitis or jaundice; prevent with gradual weight loss, high fiber, and less fat.

Acetaminophen inhibits central cyclooxygenase to reduce fever and provide mild analgesia, with no peripheral anti-inflammatory action; overdose forms napqi that depletes hepatic glutathione, causing liver toxicity, treat with NAC.

Explore the four laxative groups: bulk laxatives trap water with fiber, osmotic laxatives draw water into the lumen, stimulant laxatives boost motility via enteric nerves, and emollients prevent water loss.

Treats type 2 diabetes and may aid weight loss by inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis via mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and increases glycolysis and glucose uptake; risk of lactic acidosis with renal insufficiency.

Orlistat inhibits pancreatic lipase to reduce fat absorption with fat-rich meals, aiding weight loss but risking loss of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K and steatorrhea.