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Nutrients Involved in Blood Health and Immunity

12. Nutrients Involved in Blood Health and Immunity. Blood. Functions Transports nutrients and oxygen to cells Removes waste products generated from metabolism. Components of Blood. Erythrocytes —red blood cells transport oxygen through the body

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Nutrients Involved in Blood Health and Immunity

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  1. 12 Nutrients Involved in Blood Health and Immunity

  2. Blood • Functions • Transports nutrients and oxygen to cells • Removes waste products generated from metabolism

  3. Components of Blood • Erythrocytes—red blood cells transport oxygen through the body • Leukocytes—white blood cells are key to our immune system • Platelets—cell fragments assist in blood clotting • Plasma—fluid portion of the blood maintains adequate blood volume

  4. Nutrients Maintain Healthy Blood • Iron • Zinc • Copper • Vitamin K • Folate • Vitamin B12

  5. Iron • Iron is a trace mineral • Component of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin and myoglobin (muscle) • Component of cytochromes, electron carriers within the metabolic pathways for energy production from carbohydrates, fats, and protein

  6. Maintaining Iron Homeostasis • Regulation of iron digestion, absorption, transport, storage, and excretion • Factors that alter iron digestion and absorption • Individual’s iron status • Level of dietary iron consumption • Type of iron in foods • Amount of stomach acid for digestion • Dietary factors enhance or inhibit absorption

  7. Iron • Two types of iron in foods • Heme iron—found only in animal-based foods and more absorbable • Non-heme iron—not as easily absorbed

  8. Iron • Factors that promote iron absorption • Meat factor • Stomach acids • Vitamin C

  9. Iron • Factors that impair iron absorption • Phytate (legumes, rice, and whole grains) • Polyphenols (oregano, red wine, tea, coffee) • Vegetable proteins • Fiber • Calcium • Bioavailability of iron from vegan diet is 10%, vs. typical Western diet’s 14−18%

  10. Iron • Iron transport • Transferrin: iron-transport protein in blood • Receptors on cells transport iron into cells • Iron storage • Ferritin and hemosiderin help meet iron needs • Liver, bone marrow, and spleen

  11. Iron • Regulation of total-body: • Iron absorption • Iron losses • Storage and recycling of iron

  12. Iron • Recommended intake • RDA varies based on age and gender • 8 mg/day for adult men • 18 mg/day for adult women,19−50 years • 27 mg/day for pregnant women • Sources of iron • Meat, poultry, fish, clams, oysters, liver, enriched or fortified cereals and breads • Supplements

  13. Too Much Iron • Accidental iron overdose: most common cause of poisoning deaths in children • Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea • Hemochromatosis: excessive absorption of dietary iron and altered iron storage • Treatment: reduce dietary iron, avoid high vitamin C intake, blood removal

  14. Not Enough Iron • Most common nutrient deficiency in the world • High risk: infants, young children, adolescent girls, premenopausal and pregnant women • Poor dietary intakes • Iron losses in blood and sweat • Diets high in fiber or phytates that bind iron • Low stomach acid • Poor iron absorption (poor gut health or dietary supplements with high mineral levels, e.g., calcium)

  15. Stages of Iron Deficiency • Iron depletion is caused by a decrease in iron stores • Iron-deficiency erythropoiesis occurs with decreased iron transport • Iron-deficiency anemia results in reduced normal, healthy red blood cell production, decreased size, inadequate hemoglobin

  16. Zinc • Zinc is a trace mineral • Functions of zinc • Component of enzymes (heme synthesis) • Maintain structural integrity and shape of proteins • Assist in regulating gene expression

  17. Zinc • Absorption increases with need: growth, sexual development, pregnancy • Dietary factors inhibit zinc absorption • High non-heme iron intake • Phytates and fiber (whole grains, beans) • Dietary factor enhances zinc absorption • Animal-based protein

  18. Zinc • RDA: 8 mg/day for women, 11 mg/day for men • Sources of zinc • Red meats, some seafood, whole grains, enriched grains and cereals

  19. Zinc • Too much zinc • Toxicity can occur from supplements • Symptoms: intestinal pain, cramps, nausea, vomiting • Depressed immune function • Decreased high-density lipoprotein concentrations • Interference with copper and iron absorption.

  20. Zinc • Not enough zinc • Deficiencies are uncommon in the United States • Symptoms: growth retardation, diarrhea, delayed sexual maturation, hair loss, impaired appetite, infections • Lack of good assessment parameters for zinc

  21. Copper • Copper is a trace mineral • Functions of copper • Required for iron transport • Cofactor in energy metabolism and for connective tissue production • Part of superoxide dismutase antioxidant enzyme system • Regulates neurotransmitters (serotonin)

  22. Copper • Factors that promote copper absorption • More copper is absorbed with low-copper diet • Factors that impair copper absorption • High zinc intakes • High iron intakes

  23. Copper • Recommended intake • RDA for adults is 900 µg/day • Sources of copper • Organ meats, seafood, nuts, seeds, whole-grain foods

  24. Copper • Too much copper • Toxicity is not well studied in humans • Symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, liver damage (Wilson disease) • Not enough copper • Copper deficiency is rare • Symptoms: anemia, reduced white blood cells, osteoporosis (children—bone demineralization)

  25. Vitamin K • Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin important for both bone and blood health • Function of vitamin K • Coenzyme assists in synthesizing blood coagulating proteins: prothrombin and procoagulants, factors VII, IX, and X

  26. Vitamin K • Factors that promote vitamin K absorption • Gastrointestinal bacteria produce vitamin K • Dietary need depends on intestinal health • Factors that impair vitamin K absorption • Impaired dietary fat absorption

  27. Vitamin K • Recommended intake • AI for adults is 90−120 µg/day • Sources of vitamin K • Green leafy vegetables, such as collard greens, kale, spinach, cabbage • Soybean and canola oils

  28. Vitamin K • Too much vitamin K • No known side effects • Not enough vitamin K • Deficiency is rare • Blood fails to clot, bleeding, hemorrhaging • Fat malabsorption • Newborns lack intestinal bacteria to produce vitamin K (injection at birth)

  29. Folate • Folate is a water-soluble vitamin • Functions of folate (coenzyme) • DNA synthesis, amino acid metabolism • Cellular division and differentiation • Functions with B12 and B6 metabolism

  30. Folate • Factors that alter folate digestion, absorption, and balance • Bioavailability depends on its source: better from supplements than from food • Alterations in folate status mimic those of iron • Four states of folate deficiency

  31. Folate • Recommended intake • RDA : 400 µg/day adults, 600 µg/day during pregnancy • Sources of folate • Fortification to minimize birth defects: enriched breads, flours, pasta, grain products • Liver, spinach, lentils, oatmeal, asparagus • Heat-sensitive; leached out in cooking liquid

  32. Folate • Too much folate • Toxicity can result from supplements • Toxicity can mask vitamin B12 deficiency • Symptoms: intestinal pain, nausea, vomiting • Not enough folate • Macrocytic anemia • Elevated homocysteine • Neural tube defects

  33. Vitamin B12 • Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin • Functions of vitamin B12 • Coenzyme for DNA synthesis • Maintains myelin sheath of nerve fibers • Metabolism of amino acid homocysteine

  34. Vitamin B12 • Factors that alter vitamin B12 digestion, absorption, and balance • Requires acidic environment (stomach) and protein intrinsic factor for absorption • Stored in the liver • Four levels of vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin B12 Absorption

  35. Vitamin B12 • Recommended intake • RDA for adults is 2.4 µg/day • Sources of vitamin B12 • Available exclusively from animal sources • Vegan diet may obtain vitamin B12 from fortified foods, supplements, or injections

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