| Description |
xiv, 432 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm |
| Contents |
Foreword -- Preface -- 1 Historical Events Leading to the Establishment of Vitamins -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Early studies of nutritionally related diseases -- 1.3 Experiments on formulated diets -- 1.4 Naming of the vitamins -- Further reading -- References -- 2 Nutritional Aspects of Vitamins -- 2.1 Definition and classification of vitamins -- 2.2 Nutritional vitamin deficiency -- 2.3 Stability and bioavailability of vitamins -- 2.4 Vitamin requirements -- Further reading -- References -- 3 Background Physiology and Functional Anatomy -- 3.1 Movement of solutes across cell membranes and epithelia -- 3.2 The blood-brain, blood-cerebrospinal fluid and placental barriers -- 3.3 Functional anatomy of the small and large intestine, liver and kidney -- 3.4 Digestion and absorption -- 3.5 Glucose transport -- 3.6 Digestion, absorption and transport of dietary fat -- 3.7 Neural and endocrine communication systems -- 3.8 Structure of bone and its growth and development -- 3.9 Cell proliferation -- Further reading -- References -- 4 Background Biochemistry -- 4.1 Major degradation pathways in which B-group vitamins are involved as coenzymes -- 4.2 Amino acid utilization -- 4.3 Defences against free radicals and other reactive species4.4 Haemostasis -- 4.5 Atherosclerosis -- Further reading -- References -- 5 Background Immunology -- 5.1 General features of the immune system -- 5.2 Innate immunity -- 5.3 Inflammation -- 5.4 Acquired immunity -- 5.5 Cytokines -- 5.6 Hypersensitivity -- 5.7 Immune suppression -- 5.8 Neuroendocrine modulation of immune responses -- Further reading -- References -- 6 The Genetic Control of Protein Synthesis and its Regulation by Nuclear Hormone Receptors -- 6.1 Functional structure of DNA -- 6.2 Role of RNA in protein synthesis -- 6.3 Gene expression -- 6.4 Mutation and polymorphism -- 6.5 Basal transcription -- 6.6 Regulated transcription -- 6.7 Jun, Fos and the AP-1 complex -- 6.8 Nuclear hormone receptors as regulators of protein synthesis -- Further reading -- References -- 7 Vitamin A: Retinoids and Carotenoids -- 7.1 Historical overview -- 7.2 Chemistry and biological functions -- 7.3 Dietary sources -- 7.4 Absorption, transport and metabolism -- 7.5 Nutritional factors that influence vitamin A status -- 7.6 The role of vitamin A in vision -- 7.7 Retinoids as regulators of gene expression -- 7.8 Effects of vitamin A on the immune system -- 7.9 Role of vitamin A in bone metabolism and embryonic development -- 7.10 Vitamin A and cancer -- 7.11 Vitamin A deficiency and toxicity -- Further reading -- References -- 8 Vitamin D -- 8.1 Historical overview -- 8.2 Chemistry and biological functions -- 8.3 Dietary sources -- 8.4 Cutaneous synthesis, intestinal absorption, transport and metabolism -- 8.5 Molecular action of the vitamin D hormones -- 8.6 Calcium and phosphate homeostasis -- 8.7 Immunoregulatory properties -- 8.8 Effects of vitamin D on insulin secretion -- 8.9 Vitamin D-related diseases -- 8.10 Therapeutic applications of vitamin D analogues |
| Summary |
This single-source reference draws together the current knowledge of the vitamins' biological properties in the context of human nutrition. Vitamins are co-enzymes, antioxidants or precursors of hormones and are therefore involved in a great many biochemical and physiological processes. They play a vital role in the maintenance of health, and there is evidence that dietary sources of vitamins have beneficial effects in the prevention of heart-related diseases, bone diseases and possibly cancer. Following introductory chapters on historical and nutritional aspects of vitamins, the next four. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Subject |
Vitamins in human nutrition.
|
|
Vitamins -- Physiological effect.
|
| LC no. |
2004052947 |
| ISBN |
0632064781 (hbk. : alk. paper) |
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