Katie is getting married this summer and wants to start having children as soon as next year. She decides she is going to start taking vitamins to ensure that she'll be as healthy as possible. Since she has always worn glasses, Katie wonders if taking vitamin A supplements will help her baby have good eyesight. She also heard that folate can help prevent neural tube defects. Katie has gone to a health-food store and is trying to decide whether to purchase a multivitamin and/or several single supplements.
What are some excellent dietary sources of vitamin A and beta-carotene?
a. Organ meats such as liver when consumed several times per week
b. Margarine, plant seeds, and vegetable oils
c. Whole grains, especially wheat, corn, and rice.
d. Sweet potatoes, carrots, and spinach
How do vitamin A and beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor) contribute to good vision?
a. Vitamin A is part of a pigment in the eye responsible for initiating a signal to the brain
b. Vitamin A restricts otherwise overactive metabolic activities of tissues supporting the eye
c. Vitamin A allows the cornea to become thicker and support the production of pigments
d. They allow formation of keratin in the cornea for greater stability.
Which statement about folate is NOT correct?
a. Folate protects red blood cell membranes from free radicals
b. Folate helps synthesize DNA in new cells
c. If they are to occur, neural tube defects will generally arise in a developing fetus during the first days and weeks of pregnancy
d. Cells lining the digestive tract and both immature red and white blood cells are most vulnerable to folate deficiency.
Even for those who strongly discourage taking supplemental vitamins and minerals will usually agree that these groups should take supplements.
a. People with poor vision
b Those who consume meat-based diets
c. Athletes and young adult men
d. Pregnant or lactating women
What organization has the greatest regulatory function over supplements?
a. Food and Drug Administration's MedWatch Program (FDA MedWatch)
b. The Committee for Tolerable Upper Limits (C-UL)
c. The Department of Dietary Supplements and Health (DDSH)
d. The Supplemental Facts Panel of Experts (SFPE)