Course Description

General objectives: To know and understand the impact of vitamins and minerals on human health as well as their interactions and bioavailability. Specific objectives for the section on vitamins: To know and understand the nature, global functions and history of vitamins. To know how to distinguish between the two classes of vitamins. To know the name(s) of vitamins and their precise functions. To know and understand the relationships between vitamins, minerals, and macroelements. To be able to identify symptoms of vitamin deficiency and excess. To learn about some vitamin tests and nutritional analyses. We will also cover the following elements: The two classes of vitamins: water-soluble and fat-soluble. - Water-soluble: vitamin C and B-complex - Fat-soluble: vitamins A, D, E and K - Water-soluble vitamins - Thiamine (B1) - Riboflavin (B2) - Niacin (B3 or PP) - Pantothenic acid (B5) - Pyridoxine (B6) - Biotin (B8 or H1) - Folic acid (B9 or M) - Cobalamin (B12) - Other vitamins or pseudovitamins: inositol (B7a or I), choline (B7b or J), PABA (H2), orotic acid (B13), pangamic acid (B15), amygdalin or laetrile (B17) and also pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ). - Ascorbic acid (C) - Fat-soluble vitamins - Beta-carotene (pro–vitamin A) - Vitamin A (retinol) - Vitamin D (calciferols) - Vitamin E (alpha, beta, delta and gamma tocopherols) - Vitamin K (phylloquinone) - Vitamin absorption is given according to its presentation and form Specific objectives for the section on minerals: - To know the nature of minerals - To know and understand the biochemical roles of each mineral - To know mineral interactions - To know and understand the interactions between vitamins, minerals, and macro-elements. Detailed content: Mineral salts and the factors that affect their absorption, their metabolism and self-regulating mechanisms, their biochemical functions, symptoms of deficiency and excess, dietary sources, needs, therapeutic doses, and therapeutic applications of: - Calcium - Magnesium - Potassium - Sodium - Phosphorous - Sulphur Trace elements and the factors that affect their absorption, their metabolism and self-regulating mechanisms, their biochemical functions, symptoms of deficiency and excess, dietary sources, RDAs, therapeutic doses, and therapeutic applications of: - Boron - Chlorine - Chromium - Cobalt - Copper - Iron - Fluorine - Iodine - Lithium - Manganese - Molybdenum - Selenium - Silica - Vanadium - Zinc Toxic heavy metals and their impact on health: - Lead - Mercury - Aluminum - Cadmium - Arsenic - Silver Mineral functions are presented according to: ionic forms (electrolytes) in nutritherapy and colloidal (metallic) forms in oligotherapy. Mineral chelates; from elemental forms ‡ bound forms ‡ a protein: hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) or hydrolyzed animal protein (HAP)

Course Information

• Credits: 6
• Hours of Study required: 90

Included with:

• Theme #300, Nutrition
• Level #711, Natural Health Educator
• Program #NH400, Holistic Nutritionist or Living Food Practitioner (Quebec)

Prerequisite(s):

• Course #142, Nutrition Basics