Biochemistry Lesson 3.2: Vitamins

Study Notes

Essential organic compounds required in small amounts for proper bodily function.
Cannot be synthesized by the body, must be obtained from dietary sources.
Divided into two classes based on solubility: water-soluble and fat-soluble.
Vitamins function as cofactors in conjugated enzymes and many enzymes incorporate vitamins into their structure.
The term “vitamin” originates from “vitamine,” derived from the Latin word “vita” meaning "life."
Daily requirements range from microgram to milligram levels, contrasting with macronutrients like carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.

Stored in fat tissues and tend to accumulate in the body; thus, periodic doses are necessary.
Carried by protein carriers in the blood.
More likely to be toxic if consumed in excess.

Structurally the simplest of the 13 known vitamins, existing in two active forms: oxidized and reduced.
Synthesized from glucose derivatives by plants and most animals.
Humans, monkeys, apes, and guinea pigs are among the few species that require dietary sources for vitamin C, while other species can synthesize it from carbohydrates.

B vitamins serve as coenzymes in various biochemical reactions in humans and animals.
Unlike many vitamins, they are rarely utilized by microorganisms in metabolic functions.