VITAMIN A

FUNCTION

VITAMIN A

SIGNS OF DEFICIENCY

• Reduced vision at night or in dim light
• Dry eyes
• Eye inflammation
• susceptibility towards repiratory and urinary infections
• Stunted growth
• Rough and/or dry skin

VITAMIN A

SIGNS OF TOXICITY

SHORT TERM - nausea, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, dizziness, dry skin, loss of skin, cerebral edema

CHRONIC - dry, itchy and cracking skin, loss of skin, dry lips, headache, psychiatric changes, cerebral edea, bone and joint pain, osteoporosis, hip fracture

SEVERE - eye damage, high levels of calcium, liver damage

VITAMIN A

FUNCTION DURIG PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY

For baby's embryonic growth - including heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, bones, circulatory, respiratory and CNS

Infection resistance and fat metabolism

Postpartum tissue repair

VITAMIN A

MEDICAL CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR SUPPLEMENTATION

• Medications for skin conditions (Retinoids)
• Tetracycline Antiobiotics
• Hepatoxic drugs
• Coumadin

VITAMIN A

AMOUNT SUGGESTED AND IN WHAT FORMS

AGES 14-18 -- 750 mcg/day

         19+ -- 770 mcg/day

Eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day provides 50% to 65% of the RDA

VITAMIN A

BEST TIME TO TAKE SUPPLEMENTS

WITH A MEAL

VITAMIN A

SUBSTANCES THAT ENHANCE ABSORPTION

• Fats

• With a meal

VITAMIN A

ANTAGONISTS

• antacids
• alcohol
• mineral oil laxatives
• certain prescription medications

• fruits
• vegetable
• egs
• whole milk
• butter
• fortified margarine
• meat
• oily saltwater fish

VITAMIN A

HERBS, HOMEOPATHICS, SUPPLEMENTS THAT CAN HELP EASE DEFICIENCY

VITAMIN A

RECOMMENDED DOSAGE

PREGNANT

14-18 years old - 750 mcg/day

19+ - 770 mcg/day

LACTATING

14-18 years old - 1200 mcg/day

19+ - 1300 mcg/day

VITAMIN D

FUNCTION/IMPORTANCE IN THE BODY

• Helps absorb calcium and prevent osteoporosis
• prevents and treats rickets
• heart and blood vessels
• skin conditions
• boosting immune system

VITAMIN D

SIGNS OF DEFICIENCY

• respiratory diseases
• muscle weakness
• psoriasis
• chronic kidney disease
• diabetes
• asthma
• periodontal disease
• cardiovascular disease
• schizphrenia & depression
• cancer

VITAMIN D

SIGNS OF TOXICITY

• feelin sick or being sick
• poor appetite or loss f appetite
• feeling very thirsty
• passing urine often
• constipation or diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• muscle weakness or pain
• feeling confused
• feeling tired

• for fetal bones
• calcium stores and absorption
• helps regulate calciumand phosphate in the body
• prevents preeclampsia

• aluminum, dovonex, digoxin, diltiazem, verapamil, water pills
• cimetidine, heparin

Sunlight is best

by mouth is next

Pregnant & lactating women

600 IU/day

VITAMIN D

BEST TIME TO TAKE THE SUPPLEMENTS

Morning is best because it interferes with the sleep hormone, melatonin.

VITAMIN D

SUBSTANCES THAT ENHANCE ABSORPTION

• Take it with the largest meal of the day
• Sunlight

VITAMIN D

ANTAGONISTS/SUBSTANCES THAT INTERFERE WITH ABSORPTION

• the latitude you live
• the air pollution where you live
• sunscreen
• colou of your skin
• temperature of your skin
• your weight
• your age
• the health of your gut
• the health of your liver and kidneys

• egg yolks
• saltwater fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna)
• liver
• fortified milks
• fortified cereals

• rice bran oil
• cod liver oil
• 30c calc carb -- one pellet haf an hour after breakfast

VITAMIN D

RECOMMENDED DOSAGE

pregnant and lactating - 600IU (15mcg)

VITAMIN E

FUNCTION/IMPORTANCE IN THE BODY

• protect cells from damage of free radicals
• boost immune system
• widen blood vessels
• keep blood from clotting

VITAMIN E

SIGNS OF DEFICIENCY

• muscle weakness
• loss of muscle mass
• abnormal eye movements
• vision problems
• unsteady walking
• liver & kidney problems

VITAMIN E

SIGNS OF TOXICITY

• nausea, gastric distress, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headache, fatigue
• easy bruising & bleeding
• inhibit of platelet aggregation
• muscle weakness
• creatinuria

VITAMIN E

FUNCTION DURING PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY

• due to increase in blood volume
• important for the maintenance and health of the body
• for the proper development of the fetus

VITAMIN E

MEDICAL CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR SUPPLEMENTATION

VITAMIN E

BEST TIME TO TAKE THE SUPPLEMENTS

Pregnant - 15mg

Breastfeeding - 19mg

• helps blood clot, or coagulate
• to use calcium to build bone

• excessive bleeding
• osteoporosis

• typically associated with formula-fed infants
• jaundice
• hemolytic anemia
• hyperbilirubinemia

• allows blood to clot
• essential to development of baby's bones
• for baby's ability to clot, seal wounds

• allergy to vitamin k analogues
• anemia from Pyruvate Kinase and G6PD Deficiencies
• if on Coumadin

• Vitamin K1 - from leafy green and some other vegetables
• Vitamin K2 - from meats, cheeses, eggs and synthesized by bacteria
• Pregnant/breastfeeding (under 19) - 75mcg/day
• pregnant/breastfeeding (19+) - 90mcg/day

• taken with a fat containing meal

• dietary fat

• antibiotics
• Dilantin
• weight loss medications
• cholesterol-reducing medication

• fresh, raw salads
• leafy greens; spinach, broccoli
• red cabbage, cucumber, leeks, celery, artichokes, peas, beans
• dairy
• olive oil
• lean meat

• Cholorphyll, basil (fresh), thyme, sage
• Geranium, Ferrum phosphoricum, Secale cornutum

• Pregnant/breastfeeding (under 19) - 75mcg/day
• pregnant/breastfeeding (19+) - 90mcg/day