Fat Soluble Vitamins and Health

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Fat Soluble Vitamins and Health
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Vitamin A D E K

• These fat soluble vitamins work as a family
• They reside in membranes

3
Vitamin A

• First identified as an essential growth factor
  found in animal fats and fish oils
• Plant carotenoids also have vitamin a activity

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Vitamin A in the Body

• Vitamin A is used in two forms.
• Retinal in the eye.
• Retinoic acid in other tissues.
• Retinyl Palmitate as a vitamin A storage form.
• Beta Carotene from vegetables and fruits consists
  of two vitamin A molecules joined at the tail.
• Enzymes allow symmetric cleavage to yield two
  molecules of vitamin A.

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Vitamin A Eye

• Eye uses vitamin a as retinal

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Vitamin A Retinoic Acid

• Hormone like growth factor
• Used by epithelial cells

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Vitamin A Function

• Gene Transcription
• Interact with nuclear receptors including
  receptors of thyroid, vitamin d, and insulin
• Vision health and function
• Maintenance of healthy tissue especially mucus
  membranes and skin
• Immune function
• Hormone production and balance
• Cholesterol metabolism
• Fertility and fetal tissue development
• Cardiovascular health
• Antioxidant

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Vitamin A Deficiencies

• Fetal abnormalities of eyes, lungs, gut, and
  immune.
• Night blindness, clouding and malformation of
  cornea, corneal degradation, and dry eyes.
• Weak immunity, direct and dysfunctional mucus
  membranes.
• Keratinization of epithelial tissues, eyes,
  lungs, urogenital, and GI.
• Skin disorders, acne, eczema, psoriasis.
• Infertility
• Diabetes, hormone imbalances of thyroid, adrenal,
  sex hormones.
• Weak teeth and bones

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Vitamin A Excess/Toxicity

• Anorexia, nausea/vomit, and diarrhea.
• Headache, blurred vision, decrease coordination,
  and insomnia.
• Dry hair, skin, and mucus membranes.
• Weak teeth and bones.
• Birth defects
• Dosing greater than 1.75 mil iu, or chronic use
  greater than 2.8K iu/d.
• Liver and kidney disease, smokers, and
  malnourished.
• Synthetic vitamin a, accutane, retin A.

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Toxicity of Vitamin A in Arctic Animals

• Their Livers are Loaded with Toxic Levels of
  Vitamin A

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Vitamin A Dosing

• RDA AI (Recommended Dietary Allowance, Adequate
  Intake)
• Age 1-3 years. 1,000 iu/day
• Age 4-8 years..1,320 iu/day
• Age 9-13 years. 2,000 iu/day
• Age 14-18 years females 2,300 iu/day
• Age 14-18 years pregnant. 2,500 iu/day
• Age 14-18 years lactating4,000 iu/day
• Age 14-18 years male 3,000 iu/day
• Age 19 years female 2,300 iu/day
• Age 19 years pregnant.. 2,600 iu/day
• Age 19 years lactating 4,300 iu/day
• Age 19 years male. 3,000 iu/day

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Vitamin A Levels

• Quest Diagnostic Labs levels
• 38-98 mcg/L

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Vitamin D

• Finally in the press and on the minds of a
  greater number of even conventional
  practitioners.
• More like a hormone than a vitamin.

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Forms of Vitamin D

• D2 ergocalciferol produced by invertebrates,
  yeast, fungus, plants.
• D3 cholecalciferol produced in the skin of
  vertebrates via ultraviolet B (UVB). Small
  amounts occur naturally in fatty fish, eggs, and
  meats.
• Free

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Vitamin D Production

• Provitamin D3 is a precursor of cholesterol found
  in the skin.
• UVB converts it to vitamin D3.
• D3 is transferred from blood to liver where it is
  transformed to 25 hydroxy D3 (calcidiol).
• 25 hydroxy D3 is transferred to the kidneys for
  transformation to 1,25 hydroxy D3 (calcitriol)
  the active form of vitamin D.
• 1,25 hydroxy D3 is also produced by the Immune
  system for immune activation and modulation.

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Vitamin D Function

• Vitamin D has receptors throughout the body.
• Brain
• Genes
• Immune System
• Membranes
• Bones
• Skin
• Heart and vasculature
• Lungs
• Intestines
• Liver
• Hormone sensitive tissues, breast, ovaries,
  prostate
• antioxidant

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Vitamin D and Genes

• Vitamin D modulates gene expression by modulating
  gene of transcription proteins.
• Vitamin D receptor is a part of Nuclear Receptor
  superfamily of steroid/thyroid hormone receptors
  (works closely with hormones).
• Vitamin D receptor is found in cells of most
  organs.

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Vitamin D Calcium Metabolism

• Vitamin D helps orchestrate calcium/phosphorus
  levels and ratios along with vitamin A and K, and
  parathyroid hormone.
• Calcium flux across a membrane is more than bone
  metabolism.
• Calcium flux is also an integral part of muscle
  function, cardiovascular function, clotting,
  energy production and cell signaling.

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Vitamin D Cell Function

• Vitamin D is involved in cell proliferation,
  differentiation, and apoptosis (programmed cell
  death).
• Shares many functions as vitamin A.

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Vitamin D Immune

• Vitamin D as calcitriol is synthesized by immune
  cells for local activity against invaders
• D3 increases natural killer cell function, a
  major soldier in fighting cancers, viruses,
  fungus and yeast.
• D3 increases phagocytic activity of macrophages.
• D3 increases macrophage production of
  cathelicidin, an antimicrobial peptide.
• D3 is required for proper function of HLA.DRB1 a
  major histocompatability gene needed to
  distinguish self from nonself (autoimmunity).

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Vitamin D Bones

• D3 increases calcium absorption across the gut
  mucosa.
• D3 increases calcium transport to bones.
• D3 interacts with vitamin A and K as well as
  parathyroid hormone to regulate
  calcium/phosphorus levels and ratios.
• D3 modulates osteoclast/osteoblast activity at
  the bone.
• D3 speaks with other hormones via the super
  family of hormone receptors.

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Vitamin D Deficiency

• Bones, rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, bad
  teeth
• Auto immunity, rheumatoid arthritis, jra, lupus,
  MS, parkinsons, dementias including Alzheimer,
  autoimmune thyroid (graves, hashimotos).
• Cancers breast, prostate, lung, colon, pancreas
• Cardiovascular disease, hypertension.
• Insulin resistance/diabetes.
• Infections , flu, pneumonias, colds.
• Mood disorders, depression, seasonal affect.
• Hair and skin health.

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Multiple Sclerosis
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Vitamin D Deficiency Causes

• Lack of outdoor activity.
• Sunblock use (carotenoids are plants sunblock,
  they do concentrate in the skin).
• Malabsorption.
• Liver disease.
• Kidney disease.
• Age decreases conversion.
• Obesity decreases production.
• Synthetic D2 supplementation, decreases D3 amount
  and increases 1,25 OH D3 degradation.

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Vitamin D Toxicity

• Not established thought to b 50,000iu/day.
• Symptoms reflect those of high calcium.
• Anorexia, nausea/vomit, cramps GI and
  extremities.
• Polydipsia/uria, renal failure.
• Weakness, nervousness.
• Itch
• Pregnancy can result in retardation, facial
  abnormalities.

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Vitamin D3 Dosing

• AI infant and children 200iu/day.
• AI adults 600-800iu/day.
• CHM 4,000- 6,000iu/day (monitored).

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Tanners

• Whole body minimum erythema dosing (minimum
  amount to redden but not burn the skin) is
  equivalent to 10,000-25,0000iu dosing of vitamin
  D3.
• Sunlight is preferred, but difficult for
  Northerners.
• Tanning bulbs can be used to approximate
  sunlight, but the ballasts control the amount of
  EMF.
• Use electronic or high frequency ballasts are
  preferred to old magnetic or choke ballast.

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Vitamin E

• Vitamin E is a generic name given to a family of
  essential fat soluble antioxidants 4 tocopherols
  (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta), and 4 groups of
  tocotrienols.
• D Alpha tocopherol has the greatest activity.
• They reside in membranes where they work to
  protect against oxidation of these delicate fats
  by free radicals produced by the energy producing
  machinery of our cells.

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Vitamin D Levels

• QDL 20-100 ng/ml for 25 OH D3 (best for
  evaluating stores)
• Usual levels 10-55.
• CHM levels as low as single digits in the home
  bound, summer levels 30s, nonsummer 20s.
• When used as a medication experts on the average
  desire higher levels of 80-100.
• Require close monitoring by a professional.

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Vitamin E Function

• Principally as the resident antioxidant in
  membranes loaded with delicate double bond fats.
• Enhance immune function.
• Regulates platelet function.
• Aids in red blood cell formation.
• Involved in vitamin K use.
• ? Function as a signaling molecule?

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Vitamin E Sources
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Vitamin E Deficiencies

• Cardiovascular disease (majority of vitamin E
  found in LDL fraction of cholesterol)
• Cancer
• Alzheimers
• Cataracts

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Vitamin E Levels and Dosing

• QDL 5.7-19.9 mg/L
• AI 22.5 iu/day
• Average intake 11.4iu/day females 15iu/day
  males
• Optimum 100-400iu/day

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Overdoses and Toxicity of Vitamin E

• Doses greater than 800-1500iu/day may increase
  mortality due to all causes.
• Possible mechanisms, altered beta oxidation
  reducing the ability to burn fat for energy, or
  inability to burn dangerous fats?
• Bleeding may be a possibility especially in those
  deficient in vitamin K.

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Vitamin K

• Essential FSV involved in post translational
  modification of proteins involved in clotting and
  bone metabolism.
• K1(phylloquinone, phytomenadione, phytonadione)
  found in vegetables, avocados, and kiwi.
• K2 (menaquinone, menatetrenone) produced by GI
  flora, found in eggs, meats, dairy, and
  natto(fermented soy beans).

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Vitamin K Function

• Blood clotting regulation.
• Bone metabolism.
• Calcium/phosphorus levels and ratios modulation.
• Modulation of activities of other FSV.
• Antioxidant.
• Antiemetic pregnancy hyperemesis

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Vitamin K Deficiencies

• Bleeding.
• Osteopenia/osteoporosis.
• Calcification of atherosclerotic plaques.
• ?Cancers? (decrease cirrhosis to liver cancer)
• Medications, warfarin, aspirin, dilantin,
  cholestyramine, and antibiotics.
• Liver and gall bladder disease.
• Malabsorption (inflammatory bowel, cystic
  fibrosis)

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Vitamin K Levels and Dosing

• QDL 80-1160 pg/ml
• US DRI AI females 90mcg/d, pregnancy 65mcg/d,
  males 120mcg/d.
• Ideal per Dr. Cees Vermeer 45-185 mcg K2/d

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Vitamin K Levels and Dosing

• QDL 80-1160 pg/ml
• US DRI AI females 90mcg/d, pregnancy 65mcg/d,
  males 120mcg/d.
• Ideal per Dr. Cees Vermeer 45-185 mcg K2/d

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Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

• Omega 3 Fats, flax seed oil, small amounts
  converted to EPA and DHA, fish oils, long chain
  fats with multiple double bonds.
• Omega 6 Fats, sunflower, safflower, walnut, hemp
  etc., small amounts converted to GLA, found in
  evening primrose, borage, and black currant.

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Prostaglandins

• Local hormones made from EFAs in membrane
• PGE1 (healing PG)promotes blood flow, decreases
  inflammation, promotes repair, decreases blood
  clotting, decreases membrane leakiness
• PGE2 (inflammatory PG)promotes inflammation,
  clotting, membrane leakiness, vasoconstriction
• PGE3 from the omega 3 fats reduces the release of
  inflammatory arachadonic acid from the cell
  membrane.
• Lay a strong foundation with omega 63 ratios of
  21 to 41.

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Prostaglandin Cascade
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Prostaglandin Flow

• Omega 3 fats modulates the release of
  inflammatory arachadonic acid (PGE2) from the
  membrane via prostaglandin E3 (PGE3). This
  decreases inflammation but does not promote
  healing.
• Omega 6 fats can be gated to flow toward the
  inflammatory PGE2 pathway, or toward the healing
  PGE1 pathway. The gate is controlled by sugar,
  infection, toxin, and allergen. The less bad
  guys the more peace, prosperity, and healing
  takes place. The more bad guys the more war is
  waged

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Take Home Message

• BOTTOM LINE
• Eat a great organic diet, rich in multicolored
  fruits and vegetables, complex nonprocessed nuts,
  seeds, grains, beans, and lentils, clean proteins
  from animals and fish. Balance 2 tablespoons of
  EFA/d. Take Vitamin A 5,000 -10,000 iu/wk,
  Vitamin D 4,000iu/d, Vitamin E 100iu/d, Vitamin K
  100-200mcg/wk, Evening Primrose 1 caps
  40mgGLA/wk, EPA 800mg/month, plenty of organic
  butter and olive oil daily. Replace carbohydrates
  with oils to regulate insulin. These are general
  guidelines for the healthy members of the
  population I take care of. For individual needs
  especially for addressing illness please see a
  nutritionally trained professional.

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Do Not Forget the Fluff!!

• Laughter
• Joy
• Community
• Tranquility
• Love

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JOY
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COMMUNITY
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