Урок 45: «VITAMINS»
1. Learn these words and word combinations:
vitamin [΄v(a)itəmin] n вітамін
believe [bi'li:v] v вірити
pure [pjuə] а чистий, без домішок;
pure milk незбиране молоко
change [t eind ] v міняти, змінювати
soluble ['s ljubl] а розчинний;
fat-soluble жиророзчинний;
water-soluble водорозчинний
absence ['æbsens] n відсутність;
absent ['æbsent] а відсутній
presence ['prezns] n присутність, наявність;
present ['preznt] а присутній, наявний
2. Read the text.
Vitamins
Until the beginning of the 20-th century it was believed that pure proteins, fats,
carbohydrates and some other inorganic elements were the only components of a diet
necessary for health, growth and reproduction. But later this view had to be changed
when it was found that some additional materials were also essential for the body.
These materials appeared to be of two types: fat-soluble ("A") and water-soluble ("B").
Also it was discovered that they contained active components or vitamins.
Fat-soluble vitamins are associated with fatty foods. This complex is now known to
include vitamins A, D, E and K. The rest relate to water-soluble vitamins. The vitamin
В complex includes thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (or nicotinic
acid), folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, biotin and pantothenic acid. Vitamin C is also
water-soluble, but occurs in different foods from the B-vitamins. Many of these
vitamins exist in more than one chemical form.
In order to estimate health aspects of the proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals in
food, about a half century ago scientists separated these substances in pure forms from
some natural foods. When animals were fed with those mixtures of purified nutrients,
many of them sickened and died. It shows that the absence of any vitamin from the
diet, or, more commonly in practice, its presense in insufficient amounts, leads to both
general and specific symptoms. The most common general symptoms are; as with
deficiencies of many other things, a feeling of malaise¹ and restriction of the growth of
children.
It is known that vitamin A is essential for vision. Deficiency of this vitamin leads to
eye lesions² and even to complete blindness³. A lack of some vitamins of the vitamin В
complex may result in skin diseases (for example, in pellagra 4 , in which skin becomes
dark and scaly, especially when it is exposed to light), characteristic anaemias,
degeneration of nerve cells.
Vitamin C is necessary for the maintenance of healthy connective tissue. Its
deficiency results in bleeding, especially from small blood 5 vessels, and wounds 6 heal
7 more slowly. Scurvy 8 follows, and, if the deficiency is prolonged, death results. Mild
deficiencies may occur in infants who are given cows' milk, in people eating poor diets
(particularly the elderly), and in food faddists 9 eating little but whole cereals which
contain no vitamin C.
Excessive intakes of water-soluble vitamins are not dangerous, and have little
effect. But excessive intakes of fat-soluble vitamins, accumulating in the liver, can be
poisonous.
NOTES
1 malaise ['mæ'leiz] n нездоров'я, нездужання
2 lesion ['lі:' ən] n пошкодження, ураження
3 blindness ['blaindnis] n сліпота
4 pellagra [pe'leigrə] n пелагра
5 blood [blΛd] n кров; bleeding [bl'i:diŋ] n кровотеча
6 wound [wu:nd] n рана
7 heal [hi:l] v заживати, загоюватися
8 scurvy ['skə:vi] n цинга, скорбут
9 faddist [fædist] n дивак
3. State which of the sentences are true and which are false:
1. Until the ending of the 19-th century it was believed that pure proteins, fats,
carbohydrates and some other inorganic elements were the only components of a diet
necessary for health, growth and reproduction.
2. It was found that some additional materials were also essential for the body.
3. But later this view had to be changed when it was found that some additional
materials were not also essential for the body.
4. Fat-soluble vitamins are associated with lean foods.
5. Vitamin C is also water-soluble, but occurs in different foods from the B-vitamins.
6. About a century ago scientists separated substances in pure forms from some
natural foods.
7. When animals were fed with those mixtures of purified nutrients, many of them
were healthy.
8. It is known that vitamin A is essential for vision.
9. A lack of some vitamins of the vitamin C complex may result in skin diseases,
characteristic anaemias, degeneration of nerve cells.
10. Vitamin C is necessary for the maintenance of healthy connective tissue.
4.Choose the correct statement:
1. It was found that some additional materials were also important/essential for the
body.
2. Fat-soluble/water-soluble vitamins are associated with fatty foods.
3. In order to estimate dangerous/health aspects of the proteins, fats, carbohydrates,
minerals in food, about a half century ago scientists separated these substances in pure
forms from some natural foods.
4. When animals/people were fed with those mixtures of purified nutrients, many of
them sickened and died.
5. It shows that the absence/presence of any vitamin from the diet leads to both
general and specific symptoms.
6. The most common/specific general symptoms are; as with deficiencies of many
other things, a feeling of malaise and restriction of the growth of children.
7. It is known that vitamin A is essential for liver/vision.
8. A lack of some vitamins of the vitamin В complex may result in skin/vision
diseases.
9. Vitamin C is necessary for the maintenance of healthy nerve cells/connective
tissue.
10. Excessive intakes of water-soluble vitamins are not dangerous/dangerous, and
have little effect.
5. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words:
Fed connective tissue deficiencies
fatty pure poisonous
a lack of dangerous water-soluble vision
1. Fat-soluble vitamins are associated with __________ foods.
2. Vitamin C is also ______________, but occurs in different foods from the B-
vitamins.
3. In order to estimate health aspects of the proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals in
food, about a half century ago scientists separated these substances in
__________ forms from some natural foods.
4. When animals were _________ with those mixtures of purified nutrients, many of
them sickened and died.
5. It is known that vitamin A is essential for _____________.
6. ______________ some vitamins of the vitamin В complex may result in skin
diseases.
7. Vitamin C is necessary for the maintenance of healthy ______________.
8. Mild __________ may occur in infants who are given cows' milk, in people
eating poor diets, and in food faddists eating little but whole cereals which contain
no vitamin C.
9. Excessive intakes of water-soluble vitamins are not ___________, and have little
effect.
10. Excessive intakes of fat-soluble vitamins, accumulating in the liver, can be
__________.
