Question

Your friend daisha takes lots of vitamins and supplements every morning. she's wondering how the nutrients she ingests travel to her cells. how would you explain it to her?

Answer 1

Daisha's ingested vitamins are absorbed in the intestines, with fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin D transported to cells via the bloodstream and stored in body fat if in excess, whereas excess water-soluble vitamins are excreted.

Step-by-step explanation:

When your friend Daisha ingests vitamins and supplements, they travel through her digestive system. Vitamin D, for example, is absorbed by the intestines, transported to the liver via the bloodstream, and further distributed to cells throughout the body. There are two types of vitamins: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are absorbed with lipids in chylomicrons, and any excess can accumulate in body fat. This can lead to hypervitaminosis, which is the accumulation of toxic levels of vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins (B and C) are used as needed with any excess being excreted in urine.

Answer 2

By following below steps, Daisha's body ensures that the nutrients from her vitamins and supplements are made available to her cells, supporting her overall health. It's also worth noting that while vitamins and supplements can be beneficial, they are most effective when used to supplement a well-balanced diet.

Here's a simplified explanation that you can share with Daisha:

1. Ingestion and Digestion: When Daisha takes her vitamins and supplements, they first enter the digestive system. Here, the supplements are broken down by the stomach's acids and enzymes into their component nutrients.

2. Absorption: The breakdown products then move to the small intestine, where the majority of nutrient absorption takes place. The lining of the small intestine is highly specialized with tiny projections called villi and microvilli that increase the surface area for absorption. Nutrients pass through the walls of the small intestine and enter the bloodstream.

3. Transportation: Once in the bloodstream, the nutrients are transported throughout the body. Water-soluble vitamins (like vitamin C and B-complex vitamins) and minerals can travel freely in the blood, while fat-soluble vitamins (like vitamins A, D, E, and K) are carried by protein carriers.

4. Cellular Uptake: When the blood reaches the cells, nutrients must pass through the cell membrane. Some nutrients can pass directly through the cell membrane, but many require specific transport proteins or are taken up by the cell through processes like endocytosis.

5. Utilization: Inside the cell, these nutrients may have several destinations. Some are used as building blocks for larger molecules, some are used as coenzymes in a wide array of biochemical reactions, and others play roles in cell structure, function, and communication.

6. Storage or Excretion: Any nutrients that are not needed immediately can be stored in various forms within the body. For example, the liver stores certain vitamins and the mineral iron, while fat tissues can store fat-soluble vitamins and excess energy from calories. Excess water-soluble vitamins are typically not stored but are excreted in urine.

7. Regulation: The body regulates the uptake and release of nutrients to maintain homeostasis. Hormones and other regulatory signals will adjust the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of nutrients to meet the body’s needs.