Vitamins, Minerals and Food Test

Vitamins
Definition: A vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. It
cannot be made by the body therefore it must be obtained from, the diet.

Types of Vitamins: Vitamins are classified as either water-soluble or fat-soluble. In humans there are 13
vitamins: 4 fat-soluble (A, D, E, and K) and 9 water-soluble (8 B vitamins and vitamin C).

- Water-soluble vitamins - dissolve easily in water and are readily excreted from the body.
Because they are not readily stored, they must be obtained from the diet on a daily basis.
- Fat-soluble vitamins - dissolved in fats and can therefore be store in body fats. Because they are
more likely to accumulate in the body, they are more likely to lead to hypervitaminosis than are
water-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamin regulation is of particular significance in cystic
fibrosis.

Vitami Other Function Sources RDA * Deficiency Symptoms Treatment

n Names Diseases
A Retinol To make pigment in Cod liver oil, 900 µg Night-blindness Inability to Refractive
the rod cells in your carrots, -when a person see in the "vision
eye, which help to pumpkin cannot see well in dark. correction"
see in dim light. dim light, caused surgery.
by a lack of
Vitamin A.
B1 Thiamine Involved in many Rice, bran 1.2 mg Beriberi – disease Weight loss, Thiamine
metabolic reactions, of the nervous emotional supplements
including respiration, system due to a disturbance, which are
the breakdown of lack of Vitamin B1. impaired given by
glucose, also found sensory injection or
in the nerve cells. perception, taken by
pain in the mouth.
limbs.
C Ascorbic Helps tissues to stay Citrus fruits 90.0 mg Scurvy - is a Spots on the Vitamin C
acid strong and healthy. disease resulting skin, spongy supplements
from a deficiency gums, and which are
of vitamin C, bleeding given by
which is required from the injection or
for the synthesis mucous taken by
of collagen (in membranes. mouth.
tissues) in humans
D Calciferol It helps in the Cod liver oil, 5.0 µg– Rickets - is a Bones Exposure to
absorption of early 10 µg softening of bones fracture sunlight and
calcium. morning in children easily, supplements
sunlight potentially leading deformity in of Vitamin D
to fractures and the legs, and calcium.
deformity. diarrhea and
vomiting.
* Recommended Daily Allowances
MINERALS
Definition: A mineral is an inorganic substance required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. It
cannot be made by the body therefore it must be obtained from, the diet. E.g. calcium, iron.

Mineral Function Sources Deficiency Symptoms Treatment

Diseases
Calcium Key constituent of bones Milk, cheese Rickets - is a Bones Exposure to
and teeth; softening of fracture sunlight and
Essential for vital metabolic bones in easily, supplements
deformity in of Vitamin D
processes such as nerve children
the legs, and calcium.
function, muscle potentially diarrhea and
contraction, and blood leading to vomiting.
clotting. fractures
and
deformity.

Iron Essential for transfer of Eggs, Anemia - is Weakness or Oral iron

oxygen between tissues in Green leafy a decrease fatigue, lack supplements.
the body; vegetables in the of
number of concentration
red blood.

FOOD TESTS
Food Tests are used to determine if a particular nutrient is present in a food sample.

Nutrient Test Procedure Results

Reducing Sugars Benedict’s Test 1) Crush food sample and place in a If Reducing sugar present -
e.g. glucose boiling tube. solution changes colour
from blue to green to
2) Add some Benedict’s Solution. brown-orange to brick red,
3) Place the boiling tube in a beaker depending of how much
of boiling water. reducing sugar is present.

If Reducing sugar is absent -

there is no colour change
and the solution stays blue.
Non-reducing Modified 1) Crush food sample and place in a If Non - reducing sugar
Sugars Benedict’s Test boiling tube. present - solution changes
colour from blue to green to
2) Add hydrochloric acid and boil brown-orange to brick red,
for a minute. depending of how much
3) Add sodium bicarbonate until reducing sugar is present.
the mixture stops fizzing. If Non - reducing sugar is
4) Add some Benedict’s Solution. absent - there is no colour
change and the solution
5) Place the boiling tube in a beaker stays blue.
of boiling water.

Non - reducing Iodine Test 1) Crush food sample and put in on If Starch is present - the
sugar - Starch a white tile. iodine solution goes bluish-
black.
2) Add a few drops of iodine
If Starch is absent - there is
no colour change.

Proteins Biuret Test 1) Crush food sample and mix with If protein is present - colour
some water. change to purple.

2) Add a few drops of biuret If protein is absent - colour

solution and mix gently. changes to blue.

Fats 1) Grease spot 1) Rub food under test against If fats are present - a grease
Test some wax paper. mark is present.

2) Allow paper to dry If fats are absent - no grease

mark is present.
If a grease mark is present food the
food contains fat

1) Crush food sample and place in a If fats are present - mixture

2) Emulsion test tube. will turn cloudy white.
Test
2) Add a few drops of ethanol and If fats are absent - no colour
shake to dissolve the food. change.

3) Add some distilled water to

another clean test tube.

4) Pour the food mixture into the

water carefully.