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MCC PARAMEDIC PROGRAM
- VITAMINS & EMS PHARMACOLOGY
Letter Identifier
|
Name
|
Solubility
|
Actions
|
B1
|
Thiamine
|
water
|
Needed by brain cells to metabolize O2
& glucose. Deficiencies: Wernicke-Korsakoff
Syndrome |
D
|
Calciferol
|
fat
|
Needed to regulate calcium in bone
& blood stream. Deficiencies: Rickets |
K
|
Menadione
|
fat
|
Helps with blood clotting. Deficiencies:
clotting problems. Vitimin K (aquaMephyton), is the antidote for Coumarin based anticoagulants and rat poisons. |
C
|
Ascorbic Acid
|
water
|
Needed for healthy tissues (especially
oral areas). Boosts immune system, it has antioxident properties Deficiencies: Scurvy
|
Niacin
|
Nicotinic Acid
|
water
|
Plays vital role in cell metabolism,
can block cholesterol production. Large doses act like vasodilators
(niacin flush)
Deficiencies:
Pellagra
|
E
|
Tocopherol
|
fat
|
Antioxidant-prevents lipid
peroxidation of polyunsaturated fats. Deficiencies: RBC
hemolysis, neurological changes
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Folic Acid
|
Folacin
|
water
|
RBC production, essential in neural
tube closure of the fetus, act as co-enzyme in many body
processes Deficiencies:
Megaloblastic Anemia,
hemologic changes,
Abortion,
Neuropathy
Psychiatric
disorders
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Water soluable vitamins are
easily flushed from the body. The body only uses what
it needs and then discards the rest. Fat soluable vitamins, on
the other hand, accumulate in the body and can be toxic in
excess. This is called hypervitaminosis.
An easy way
to remember the fat soluable vitamins: All Dogs Eat
Kittens
Note: There are many more important vitamins not listed here. This table represents
the minimum knowledge expected of the paramedic student or practicing paramedic.
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