Absorption Of Nutrients

Digestion and Absorption of Fat Soluble Vitamins (Nutrients)

Introduction

Fat soluble vitamins are referred to the vitamins soluble are those which can be dissolved in fats and oils, in contrast to water-soluble vitamins which are dissolved in water. Correspond to vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K and vitamin A (retinol). These nutrients could be easily stored in tissues. He core focus of this paper is to identify and discuss the main process of the digestion and absorption of nutrients through the following discussion from a literary perspective.

Main Features

The presence of bile and pancreatic lipolytic enzymes (like fat) are very important for the digestion and absorption of fat soluble vitamins, so, if there is a deficit of fat absorption, are also affected soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins are not easily absorbed or excreted, and excess in the body can be toxic. Become part of the micelles of lipid digestion. Soluble vitamins diffuse through the brush border membrane into the intestinal epithelial cell. In intestinal epithelial cells, enter-soluble vitamins in chylomicrons and out of the intestine with the lymph, in the absence of bile acids , a significant fraction of the ingested fat soluble vitamins can be absorbed out of the intestine and the portal blood. A part of the fat-soluble vitamins, there are other types of vitamins, water soluble and which are more easily removed by the body, as they dissolve in the presence of water and are themselves equally necessary than before (Grosvenor, 2009). The following are the most significant nutrients that come under the category of fat soluble vitamins.

Vitamin A

The immune response is very important because it has nuclear receptors involved in the formation and maintenance of skin, mucous membranes, teeth and bones, formation of enzymes. Acts as a hormone and is used as a cell differentiation. An antioxidant activity is also present, particularly its precursor beta carotene. It stands to favor low-light vision, in its deficit keratomalacia (dryness, shrinkage sclera, common in children with malnutrition is caused by lack of food) is highlighted.

Vitamin A is stored in the liver and is found in the retina , it can lead to retinal (aldehyde group replacing with alcohol). In its branched structure plays an essential role in its function in vision, especially in the sticks, from opsin forming rhodopsin with vitamin A in neuronal cells of the retina, the cells there is a sodium channel when a photon hits this protein closing the sodium channel, causing retinal membrane depolarization (Adedokun, 2006).

Its main dietary sources are liver (29,73 mcg/4oz), carrots, butter animal (815 mc/4oz), spinach, squash, cheese (385mcg/4oz). The daily requirement of vitamin A correspond to 800/1000 mcg). Since vitamin A is readily stored in the cells of adipose tissue, the accumulation of this vitamin in the long term can be toxic, the intake of vitamin supplements generates hypervitaminosis ie poisoning caused by vitamin A, yellowish skin, dermatitis , photosensitivity and visual problems. Some treatments aimed at reducing the level of cholesterol using cholestyramine , affecting the natural balance ...