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Vitamins have diverse biochemical functions. Vitamin A acts as a regulator of cell and tissue growth and differentiation. Vitamin D provides a hormone-like function, regulating mineral metabolism for bones and other organs. The B complex vitamins function as enzyme cofactors (coenzymes) or the precursors for them.
Vitamins occur in a variety of related forms known as vitamers. The vitamers of a given vitamin perform the functions of that vitamin and prevent symptoms of deficiency of that vitamin. Vitamins are those essential organic molecules that are not classified as amino acids or fatty acids.
B vitamins are a class of water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism and synthesis of red blood cells. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] They are a chemically diverse class of compounds. [ 1 ]
Vitamins can serve as precursors to many organic cofactors (e.g., vitamins B 1, B 2, B 6, B 12, niacin, folic acid) or as coenzymes themselves (e.g., vitamin C). However, vitamins do have other functions in the body. [29] Many organic cofactors also contain a nucleotide, such as the electron carriers NAD and FAD, and coenzyme A, which carries ...
Vitamin B 12 is the most chemically complex of all vitamins, [6] and for humans the only vitamin that must be sourced from animal-derived foods or supplements. [ 2 ] [ 7 ] Only some archaea and bacteria can synthesize vitamin B 12 . [ 8 ]
Micronutrients are essential dietary elements required by organisms in varying quantities to regulate physiological functions of cells and organs. [1] [2] Micronutrients support the health of organisms throughout life. [3] [4] [5] In varying amounts supplied through the diet, micronutrients include such compounds as vitamins and dietary minerals.
Proteins have two types of well-classified, frequently occurring elements of local structure defined by a particular pattern of hydrogen bonds along the backbone: alpha helix and beta sheet. Their number and arrangement is called the secondary structure of the protein.
Vitamin C supplements among other dietary supplements at a US drug store. Vitamin C has a definitive role in treating scurvy, which is a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. Beyond that, a role for vitamin C as prevention or treatment for various diseases is disputed, with reviews often reporting conflicting results.