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====== Understanding Vitamins & Minerals (Office Hours Series) ======

This series is about understanding **what micronutrients actually do** before memorizing deficiencies.

Energy production. DNA synthesis. Oxygen transport. Antioxidant defense. Bone signaling. Coagulation.

If you understand the function — the deficiency patterns make sense.

<WRAP center round 90%>
**Quick Links** \\ 
  * [[office_hours:series:start|← Back to Office Hours: Series]]  
  * [[hematology:start|Hematology]]  
  * [[endocrine:start|Endocrine]]  
  * [[gi:start|GI / Malabsorption]]  
  * [[renal:start|Renal]]  
</WRAP>

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===== Series Structure =====

This series progresses in 3 phases:

  * **Phase 1 — Biochemical Function**
  * **Phase 2 — Functional Grouping**
  * **Phase 3 — Clinical Pattern Recognition**

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===== Phase 1 — The Energy & Cofactor Framework =====

==== Episode 1 — B Vitamins & the Krebs Cycle ====

<WRAP lecturevideo>
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What you’ll understand:
  * Why B vitamins are coenzymes
  * Where B1, B2, B3, B5 fit into oxidative metabolism
  * Why B6 matters for amino acids
  * Why B9/B12 are DNA synthesis vitamins
  * Why deficiency = high-turnover tissue dysfunction

→ [[office_hours:vitamins_minerals:episode_1|Open Episode 1 Page]]

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===== Phase 2 — Functional Categories =====

==== Episode 2 — Fat-Soluble Vitamins (A, D, E, K) ====

  * Vitamin A → gene transcription / vision
  * Vitamin D → hormone, calcium signaling
  * Vitamin E → antioxidant membrane protection
  * Vitamin K → clotting factor activation

→ [[office_hours:vitamins_minerals:episode_2|Open Episode 2 Page]]

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==== Episode 3 — Minerals: Structure, Signaling & Oxygen Transport ====

  * Iron → oxygen binding
  * Cobalt → part of B12
  * Magnesium → ATP stabilizer
  * Zinc → transcription factors
  * Copper → redox enzymes
  * Iodine → thyroid hormone
  * Selenium → antioxidant enzymes

→ [[office_hours:vitamins_minerals:episode_3|Open Episode 3 Page]]

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===== Phase 3 — Clinical Pattern Recognition =====

==== Episode 4 — Anemia Framework (Iron vs B9 vs B12) ====
==== Episode 5 — Neuropathy Framework (B12 vs B6 vs Copper) ====
==== Episode 6 — Bone & Electrolytes (D, Ca, Mg, Phos) ====
==== Episode 7 — Refeeding & Alcohol Deficiency Patterns ====
==== Episode 8 — Drug-Induced Deficiencies ====

→ [[office_hours:vitamins_minerals:clinical|Clinical Episodes Index]]

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===== Functional Map of Vitamins =====

<WRAP center 95%>
^ Functional Role ^ Key Nutrients ^ What Fails When Deficient ^
| Oxidative metabolism (Krebs / ETC) | B1, B2, B3, B5 | Fatigue, neuropathy |
| DNA synthesis | B9, B12 | Macrocytic anemia |
| Amino acid metabolism | B6 | Neuropathy, anemia |
| Antioxidant | Vitamin E, Selenium | Neuromuscular dysfunction |
| Vision / epithelial health | Vitamin A | Night blindness |
| Bone / calcium regulation | Vitamin D | Osteomalacia |
| Clotting activation | Vitamin K | Elevated INR |
</WRAP>

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===== Mineral Function Overview =====

<WRAP center 95%>
^ Mineral ^ Core Role ^ High-Yield Association ^
| Iron | Hemoglobin oxygen binding | Microcytic anemia |
| Cobalt | Component of B12 | Macrocytic anemia |
| Magnesium | Stabilizes ATP | Refractory hypokalemia |
| Zinc | Enzyme/transcription factor | Poor wound healing |
| Copper | Iron metabolism, myelin | Myelopathy |
| Iodine | Thyroid hormone | Hypothyroidism |
| Selenium | Glutathione peroxidase | Cardiomyopathy (rare) |
</WRAP>

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===== Deficiency & Toxicity Snapshot =====

<WRAP center 95%>
^ Nutrient ^ Classic Deficiency Pattern ^ Common Causes ^ Toxicity Risk ^
| B1 | Wernicke / neuropathy | Alcohol | Rare |
| B3 | Pellagra (3 D's) | Malnutrition | Flushing (high dose) |
| B9 | Macrocytosis | Pregnancy, meds | Masks B12 |
| B12 | Macrocytosis + neuropathy | Metformin, vegan | Rare |
| Vitamin D | Bone pain | Low sun, CKD | Hypercalcemia |
| Vitamin K | Easy bruising | Antibiotics | Rare |
| Iron | Microcytosis | Bleeding | Overload (hemochromatosis) |
| Magnesium | Tetany, low K | Diuretics | Diarrhea |
</WRAP>

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<WRAP center round tip 90%>
Deficiency patterns reflect function.  
High-turnover tissue (bone marrow, GI tract, nervous system) fails first.
</WRAP>

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===== Related =====
  * [[office_hours:series:start|Office Hours: Series]]
  * [[office_hours:start|Office Hours Home]]
  * [[lectures:start|Full Lecture Series]]
  * [[start|PharmAtlas Home]]