AKBF Ramblings

Vitamins are organic compounds which is required as nutrients in small amounts by an organism. A compound is known as a vitamin when it is not possible for an organism to synthesize it in sufficient quantities and hence must be taken through diet.

Therefore, the term vitamin is conditional and hence depends on both the particular organism and the circumstances. For example, vitamins K and D are essential in the human diet in only definite circumstances and in some animals(Why Do Animals Need Bodywork?) the acid known as ascorbic acid performs the function of vitamin C but this is not true with all other animals.

Vitamins are differentiated on the basis of their chemical and biological activity and not on their structure. Thus, each and every vitamin refers to numerous vitamer compounds. These vitamer compounds show the biological processes related with a specific vitamin.

Vitamins have to perform a large number of biochemical functions, such as antioxidants (e.g. vitamin E), regulators and differentiator of tissue and cell growth and mediators of cell signaling (e.g. vitamin A) and hormones (e.g. vitamin D).The majority of the vitamins (e.g. B complex) function as the originator for the coenzymes that help in acting as substrates and catalysts in metabolism. When the above acts as a part or as a catalyst then the vitamins are attached to enzymes and are known as prosthetic groups. Biotin is an example where it acts as a part of the enzymes which are involved in the production of fatty acids.