STUDENT NURSES’ COMMUNITY

Nutrients Function(s) Deficiency Symptoms RDA Toxicity Level Sources

CARBOHYDRATE • Provides energy for body • Caloric deficiency is referred to Intake should not • Cereals
functions and muscular as Marasmus characterized by exceed what is • Fruits
exertions. loss of weight skin turgor, old- needed to maintain • Vegetables
• Assist in digestion and man look, distended abdomen, desirable weight.
• Milk
assimilation of foods. hypotonia
• Loss of energy.
• Fatigue
• Excessive protein breakdown
• Disturbed balance of water,
sodium, potassium and
chloride.
FAT • Provides energy • Eczema or skin disorders At least 15% of total Intake should not • Fats and oils
• Acts as a carrier for fat- • Retarded growth calories, but no more exceed what is • Meats
soluble vitamins A, D, E, K. than 25% of total needed to maintain • Fish
• Supplies essential fatty acids calories. desirable weight.
• Some seeds
needed for growth, health, • Dairy products
and smooth skin
PROTEIN • Is necessary for growth and • Protein deficiency is referred to 45-50 g high-quality Intake should not • Meat
development. as kwashiorkor, characterized protein exceed what is • Fish
• Acts in formation of by lethargy, inadequate needed to maintain • Dairy product
hormones, enzymes, and growth, loss of muscular desirable weight.
• Eggs
antibodies tissue, increases susceptibility
• Nuts
• Maintains acid-alkali balance to infection, edema
• Legumes
• Is a source of heat and • Fatigue
• Cereals
energy • Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea and vomiting
• Stunted growth
• Edema
 STUDENT NURSES’ COMMUNITY

VITAMINS/
Function(s) Deficiency Symptoms RDA Toxicity Level Sources
MINERALS
VITAMIN A • Is necessary for growth and • Night blindness Infants: 1,400-2,000 • Fetal • Dairy products
repair of body tissues • Xeropthalmia IU malformations • Liver
• Is important for healthy of • Poor growth Children: 2,000-4,000 • Hair loss, skin • Green, yellow
eyes IU changes
• Rough, dry, scaly skin and orange
• Fights bacteria and infection Adults: 4,000-5,000 IU • Bone pain fruits and
• Increased susceptibility to
• Maintains healthy epithelial infections • 50,000 to vegetables
tissue • Frequent fatigue, insomnia, 100,000 IU
• Aids in bone and teeth depression maybe toxic if
formation • Loss of smell and appetite there is no
deficiency and
• Lusterless hair
if used daily
• Brittle nails more than 4-8
• Inflamed eyelids weeks.
VITAMIN B • Is necessary for • Dry, rough, cracked skin See individual B See individual B See individual B
COMPLEX carbohydrate, fat and protein • Dull, dry or gray hair vitamins vitamins; relatively vitamins;
metabolism. • Fatigue non toxic.
• Helps functioning of the • Poor appetite
nervous system. • Gastrointestinal tract disorders
• Helps maintain muscle tone in
the gastrointestinal tract.
• Maintains health of skin, hair,
eyes, mouth and liver
VITAMIN B1 • Is necessary for carbohydrate • Beriberi Infants: 0.3-0.5 mg No known oral • Whole grains
Thiamine metabolism. • Poor coordination Children: 0.7-1.2 mg toxicity. • Enriched
• Helps maintain healthy • Edema Men: 1.4 mg cereals
nervous system. Women: 1.0 mg • Pork
• Weakness
• Stabilizes the appetite Extra needed if on
• Gastrointestinal problems • Legumes
poor diet or with use of
• Stimulates growth and good • Fatigue • Seeds
alcohol
muscle tone. • Loss of appetite • Nuts
• Nerve disorders
• Heart disorders
• Poor impulse control
VITAMIN B2 • Is necessary for • Eye problems Infants: 0.4-0.6 mg No known oral • Grains
Riboflavin carbohydrate, fat and protein • Cracks and sores in mouth Children: 0.8-1.4 mg toxicity. • Enriched cereal
metabolism • Dermatitis Men: 1.6 mg products
• Aids in formation of antibodies Women: 1.2 mg • Meats
• Retarded growth
and red blood cells Extra needed if
 STUDENT NURSES’ COMMUNITY

• Maintains cell respiration • Digestive disturbances artificial light used • Fish

• Green leafy
vegetables
VITAMIN B3 • Is necessary for • Ariboflavinosis Infants: 6-8 mg • Vasodilation • Meats
Niacin carbohydrate, fat and protein • Cheilosis Children: 9-16 mg • Liver damage • Fish
(Nicotinic Acid, metabolism • Glossitis Men: 16 mg • 100-300 mg • Nuts
Niacinamide) • Helps maintain health of skin, Women: 13 mg
• Ellagra nicotinic acid • Whole grains
tongue and digestive system • Dermatitis orally may • Eggs
• Nervous Disorders produce
flushing in
• Headaches
some
• Insomnia individuals.
• Bad breath
• Digestive disturbances
• Sore mouth and gums
VITAMIN B5 • Aids in formation of some fats • Vomiting Infants: 2-3 mg 500-1,000 mg per • Cereals
Pantothenic • Participates in the release of • Restlessness Children: 3-7 mg day is still safe as • Yeast extracts
Acid energy from carbohydrates, • Increased susceptibility to Adults: 5-10 mg treatment for • Nuts
fats and proteins allergy.
infection • Eggs
• Aids in the utilization of some • Gastrointestinal disturbances • Meat
vitamins • Depression • Poultry
• Improves body’s resistance to • Fatigue • Oats
stress
• Barley

VITAMIN B6 • Is necessary for • Headache Infants: 0.3-0.6 mg Toxicity possible • Whole grains
Pyridoxine carbohydrate, fat and protein • Convulsion Children: 0.9-1.8 mg above 500 mg per • Most high
metabolism • Nausea Men: 2.2 mg day. protein foods
• Aids in formation of antibodies Women: 2 mg Women do better at • Spinach
• Anemia
• Helps maintain balance of 25-50 mg per day.
• Mouth disorders • Broccoli
sodium and phosphorus • Nervousness
• Muscular weakness
• Dermatitis
• Dandruff
• Water retention
VITAMIN B12 • Is essential for normal • Megaloblastic anemia Infants: 0.5-1.5 mcg No known oral • Foods of
Cobalamin formation of blood cells. • Poor nerve function Children: 2-3 mcg toxicity even with animal origin
• Is necessary for Adults: 3 mcg intake as high as • Microorganisms
• Brain damage
carbohydrate, fat and protein 600-1200 mcg. in fermented
 STUDENT NURSES’ COMMUNITY

metabolism • Nervousness foods

• Maintains healthy nervous • Neuritis
system
FOLIC ACID • Is important in red blood cell • Megaloblastic anemia Infants: 0.03-0.045 mg No toxic effects • Green leafy
Folicin formation • Poor growth Children: 0.1-0.4 mg vegetables
• Aids metabolism of proteins • Gastrointestinal disorder Adults: 0.4 mg • Nuts
• Is necessary for growth and • Birth defects • Legumes
division of body cells. • Poor memory • Grain products
VITAMIN C • Maintains collagen • Scurvy Infants: 35 mg Essentially • Citrus fruits
Ascorbic Acid • Helps heal wounds, scar • Bleeding gums Children: 45-50 mg nontoxic. • Broccoli
tissue and fractures • Swollen or painful joints Adults: 60 mg Large doses, • Cantaloupe
• Gives strength to blood 10,000 to 20,000
• Slow-healing of wounds and • Kiwi
vessels mg may soften
fractures
bowel movements. • Cabbage
• May provide resistance to • Nosebleeds • Strawberries
infections • Impaired digestion • Melons
• Aids in absorption of Iron • Tomatoes
VITAMIN D • Improves absorption and • Rickets (in children) Infants, children and • Growth • Dairy products
utilization of calcium and • Osteomalacia (in adults) adults, 400 IU retardation • Egg yolks
phosphorus required for bone • Poor bone and tooth formation • Kidney • Fatty fish
formation • Softening of bones and teeth damages
• Maintains stable nervous • Inadequate absorption of • Calcium
system and normal heart calcium deposits in soft
action. tissue
• Retention of phosphorus in
kidney • Doses over
1,000-2,000 IU
daily
considered
potentially
toxic.
VITAMIN E • Protects fat-soluble vitamins • Rupture of red blood cells Infants: 4-6 IU • Essentially • Vegetable oils
• Protects red blood cells • Muscular wasting Children: 7-12 IU nontoxic. • Nuts
• Is essential in cellular • Abnormal fat deposits in Men: 15 IU • 4,000-30,000 • Seeds
Women: 12 IU IU of
respiration muscles • Whole grains
• Inhibits coagulation of blood tocopherol for
by preventing blood clots prolonged
periods
produces side
effects on
some persons
 STUDENT NURSES’ COMMUNITY

VITAMIN K • Is necessary for formation of • Lack of prothrombin, Infants: 12-20 mcg Menadione • Green
prothrombin; is needed for increasing the tendency for Children: 15-100 mcg (synthetic vitamin vegetables
blood coagulation hemorrhage Adults: 300-500 mcg K) may have side
effects.
MINERALS
CALCIUM • Sustains development and • Stunted growth (in children) Infants: 360-540 mg • Possible • Milk products
maintenance of strong bones • Osteoporosis (in adults) Children: 800-1,200 depressed • Dark green
and teeth. • Tetany mg absorption of leafy
• Assist normal blood clotting, Adults: 800 mg some other vegetables
• Softening bones
muscle action, nerve function minerals and • Shrimp
• Back and leg pains
and heart function kidney damage • Broccoli
• Brittle bones
• Excessive • Salmon
• Insomnia intakes of
• Irritability • Clams
calcium may
• Depression have side • Legumes
effects in
certain
persons.
CHLORINE • Regulates acid-base balance • Loss of hair and teeth No RDA • Vomiting • Salt in most
• Maintains osmotic pressure • Poor muscular contractibility • Daily intake of foods
• Stimulates production of • Impaired digestion 14-28 g of salt • Soy sauce
hydrochloric acid (sodium • Cured meats
• Helps maintain joints and chloride) is • Pickles
tendons considered • Canned Soups
excessive.
• Processed
cheese
CHROMIUM • Stimulates enzymes in • Depressed growth rate Infants: 0.01-0.06 mg No known toxicity. • Meat
metabolism of energy and • Glucose intolerance in Children: 0.02-0.2 mg • Clams
synthesis of fatty acids, diabetics Adults: 0.05-0.2 mg • Corn oil
cholesterol and protein • Atherosclerosis • Whole grain
• Increase effectiveness of cereals
insulin • Brewer’s yeast
COOPER • Aids in formation of red blood • General weakness Infants: 0.5-1 mg Excessive intakes • Oysters
cells • Impaired respiration Children: 1-3 mg may have side • Cocoa
• Is part of many enzymes • Skin sores Adults: 2-3 mg effects. • Nuts
• Works with Vitamin C to form • Cherries
elastin • Mushroom
• Whole grain
cereals
 STUDENT NURSES’ COMMUNITY

FLUORINE • May reduce tooth decay by • Tooth decay Infants: 0.1-1 mg • Acute digestive • Fluoridated
(Fluoride) discouraging the growth of Children: 0.5-2.5mg distress water and
acid-forming bacteria Adults: 1.5-4 mg • Chronic toothpaste
mottling of • Seafood
teeth;skeletal
• Excessive
intake of
fluoride may
have side
effects in some
persons.
IODINE • Is essential part of the • Enlarged thyroid gland Infants: 40-50 mcg • Iodide goiter • Seafood
(Iodide) hormone thyroxine • Weight gain Children: 70-150 mcg • Up to 1,000 • Iodized salt
• Is necessary for the • Dry skin and hair Adults: 150 mcg mcg daily
prevention of goiter • Loss of physical and mental produced no
• Regulates production of vigor toxic effects in
energy and rate of • Cretinism in children born to persons with a
metabolism iodine-deficient mothers normal thyroid.
• Promotes growth
IRON • Is necessary for hemoglobin • Weakness Infants: 10-15 mg • Acute: shock, • Red meat
and myoglobin formation • Paleness of skin Children: 15-18 mg death • Organ meat
• Helps in protein metabolism • Constipation Men: 10 mg • Chronic: Liver • Egg yolk
• Promotes growth Women: 18 mg damage
• Anemia • Legumes
• Infection Cardiac failure • Enriched
cereals
MAGNESIUM • Acts as a catalyst in the • Nervousness Infants: 50-70 mg More than 2,000 • Whole grains
utilization of carbohydrates, • Muscular excitability Children: 150-300 mg mg daily may be • Nuts
fats, protein, calcium, • Tremors Adults: 500-1,000 mg toxic in certain • Leagues
phosphorus and possibly may be a better individuals.
• Depression • Nuts
potassium. amount.

MANGANESE • Is enzyme activator • Paralysis Infants: 0.5-1 mg Excessive intake • Whole grains
• Plays a part in carbohydrate • Convulsions Children: 1-5 mg may have side Nuts
and fat production • Dizziness Adults: 2.5-5 mg effects in certain • Leafy
• Is necessary for normal persons. vegetables
• Ataxia
skeletal development • Blindness and deafness in • Teas
• Maintains sex-hormones infants
production • Diabetes
• Loss of hearing
 STUDENT NURSES’ COMMUNITY

PHOSPHORUS • Works with calcium to build • Weakness; demineralization of Infants: 240-360 mg • Depressed • Milk products
bones and teeth bone Children: 800-1,200 absorption of • Meat
• Utilizes carbohydrates, fats • Loss of weight mg some minerals • Poultry
and proteins • Irregular breathing Adults: 800 mg such as • Eggs
• Stimulates muscular • Pyorrhea calcium
• Legumes
contraction • Fatigue • Nuts
• Nervous disorders
POTASSIUM • Works to control activity of • Poor reflexes. Infants: 350-1,275 mg • Muscular • Vegetables
heart muscles, nervous • Respiratory failure Children: 550-4,575 weakness • Fruits
system and kidneys • Cardiac arrest mg • Cardiac arrest • Meats
Adults: 1,875-5,625
• Nervous disorders • Milk
mg
• Constipation • Prunes
• Irregular pulse • Beans
• Insomnia
SELENIUM • Works with Vitamin E • Premature aging Infants: 0.01-0.06 mg Excessive intake • Corn
• Preserves tissue elasticity Children: 0.02-0.2 mg may be toxic. • Wheat
Adults: 0.05-0.2 mg • Rice
SODIUM • Maintains normal fluid levels • Muscle weakness Infants: 115-750 mg • High blood • Salt in most
in cells. • Muscle shrinkage Children: 325-2,700 pressure in foods
• Maintains health of the • Nausea mg some people • Soy sauce
nervous, muscular, blood and Adults: 1,100-3,300 • Excessive • Cured meats
• Loss of appetite
lymph systems mg sodium intake
• Intestinal gas • Canned soups
may have • Processed
adverse cheese
effects.
• Intake of 14-28
g of sodium
chloride (salt) is
considered
excessive.
SULFUR • Is part of amino acids • Possibly sluggishness and The RDA of protein Excessive intake of • Meat
• Is essential for formation of fatigue supplies sufficient sulfur may be toxic • Poultry
body tissues amounts of sulfur • Fish
• Is part of the B vitamins
• Play a part in tissue
respiration
• Is necessary for collagen
synthesis
 STUDENT NURSES’ COMMUNITY

ZINC • Is component of insulin and • Retarded growth Infants: 3-5 mg • Acute: nausea; • Meat
male reproductive fluid • Delayed sexual maturity Children10-15 mg vomiting; • Fish
• Aids in digestion and • Prolonged healing of wounds Adults: 15 mg diarrhea • Poultry
metabolism of phosphorus • Stretch marks • Chronic: • Whole grain
• Aids in healing process • Irregular menses adversely cereals
affects copper • Beads
• Diabetes
metabolism,
• Loss of taste and appetite anemia and
immune
function