Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Vitamins

Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Vitamins is a key resource describing how vitamins function as physiologically active molecules at the cellular level. The contents of the book are divided into four sections including a thorough introduction; biological perspectives; fat-soluble vitamins; and water-soluble vitamins.  Vitamin chapters cover information on chemical structures; intestinal absorption; plasma transport and metabolism; biochemical and physiological actions; regulations of gene expression; immunological properties; deficiency-related diseases.  The ‘perspectives’ chapters facilitate the understanding of vitamin biology; including the theory of biochemistry, physiology, endocrinology, molecular genetics, and immunology.

Features

·       Facilitates learning and understanding through a logical flow of information.

·       Discusses vitamin ‘behavior’ across a wide range of biological disciplines.

·       Discusses immunological and deficiency-related diseases including coronary artery disease, diabetes and cancer; and potential toxicity.

Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Vitamins appeals to those involved in vitamin research or teaching, postgraduate students studying nutrition or health-related topics, health practitioners, and scientists.

Part I: Introduction. 1 Nutritional Aspects of Vitamins. Part II: Biological Perspectives. 2 Membrane Physiology. 3 Functional Anatomy of the Small and Large Intestine, Liver and Kidney. 4 General Physiology of Digestion and Absorption. 5 Glucose Transport. 6 Metabolism and Transport of Lipids. 7 Topics of Biochemistry. 8 Transduction of Intracellular Signals. 9 Type II Nuclear Receptor-Mediated Transcription. 10 A Guide to the Immune System. 11 Physiology of the Vascular System. 12 Structure of Bone and its Growth and Development. 13 The Blood—Brain, Blood—Cerebrospinal Fluid and Placental Barriers. 14 The Cell Cycle, Apoptosis and Cancer. Part III: The Fat-Soluble Vitamins. 15 Vitamin A: Retinoids and the Provitamin A Carotenoids. 16 Vitamin D. 17 Vitamin E. 18 Vitamin K. Part IV: The Water-Soluble Vitamins. 19 Thiamin (Vitamin B1) . 20 Flavins: Riboflavin, FMN and FAD (Vitamin B2). 21 Niacin: Nicotinic Acid and Nicotinamide. 22 Vitamin B6. 23 Pantothenic Acid. 24 Biotin. 25 Folate. 26 Vitamin B12. 27 Vitamin C.