Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential nutrients, required in small amounts for normal cell function. There are 13 essential vitamins that are either water soluble or fat soluble. Vitamins have diverse biochemical functions including acting as hormones, antioxidants, enzyme cofactors, and metabolic precursors. They are important for growth, tissue maintenance, and converting nutrients into energy. Vitamins help support key bodily functions like vision, skin health, bone growth, blood cell production, and metabolic processes. Deficiencies can lead to conditions like night blindness, anemia, rickets, and scurvy. Vitamins work as cofactors that allow enzymes to catalyze biochemical reactions in the body.

1. Vitamins:
Importance,
Structure
&
Functions

2. What are Vitamins??
VITAMINS
Water soluble
Fat soluble
13 Essential
Vitamins
Vitamins are the organic compounds and vital
nutrient required for normal cell function
Required in limited amount for cells
They are classified by their biological and chemical
activity

3. Easily soluble in water
Easily excreted out of
the body via urea
Over dosage is not
possible
Ex Vitamin B, C
Soluble in Fats & lipids
Easily absorbed into
body via small intestine
(stored in liver & adipose
tissue)
Over dosage is possible
leading to
hypervitaminosis
E.g.: Vitamin A,D,E,K

4.  Essential for normal growth of multicellular
organisms.
Even for a fetus to grow it requires vitamins along with
the nutrients.
 Essential nutrients for healthy maintenance of
tissues and cells.
Very important in converting proteins carbohydrates
and fats into energy requires.
Importance of Vitamins

5. Diverse Biochemical Functions
Hormone like functions – Regulators of cell and
tissue growth
Antioxidants – Prevention of diseases like cancer or
heart.
Enzyme Cofactor- Coenzymes- Helps enzymes in
their work as catalysts.
Precursors – Similar to cofactors but produces new
metabolic pathway.

6. 1.Vitamin A (β- carotene)  Eyes
 Skin
 Hair
 Bone
 Teeth
 Cell production
& immune
× Night blindness
× Dry Skin
× Poor bone and
teeth growth
2. Vitamin B
a)Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
× Loss of
appetite
× Weakness
× Fatigue
 Conversion of
carbohydrates into
energy
 Functioning of
Nervous system
 Heart
 Digestive system

7. b) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
C) Vitamin B3(Niacin)

8. d) Vitamin B5(Pentothenic Acid)
 Conversion of
carbohydrates, proteins
and fats into energy
e)Vitamin B6(Pyridoxine)
× Stomach pain
× Burning feet
upper
× Respiratory
infection
 Conversion of
carbohydrates,
proteins and fats
into energy
× Conjunctivitis
× Anemia
× Neuropathy

9. f) Vitamin B7(Biotin)
 Metabolism of
carbohydrate
and fat support
adrenal
function
× Hair loss
× Depression
× Hallucination

10. d)Vitamin B9 (Folic acid)  RBC production
 Nervous system
 Normal brain functions
× Deficiency effect
× Anemia
× Loss of appetite
× Weight loss
× Headache
E)Vitamin B12
 Needed for nerve cells
 RBC and DNA
× Numbness
× Nerve cell death

11. 3.Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
 Production of collagen
 Antioxidant
× Bleeding gums
× Scurvy
× Loose teeth
× Poor wound healing
4.Vitamin D
 Absorption of Ca
and P in the body
 Bones
× Rickets and
Osteomalacia
× Soft bones

12. 6. Vitamin K
 Control Blood clotting
× Internal bleeding
× Nose bleed
5.Vitamin E
 Antioxidant
× Intestinal disorder
× Cystic fibrosis
× Pancreatitis

13. Enzyme Cofactors or Coenzymes
What are Cofactors???
Molecules that binds to enzymes and allow the enzymes to
function as catalysts to catalyze the reaction by allowing it
to be active.

14. Cofactors
categories
Metals – cofactors containing metals like zinc
nickel etc.
Coenzymes – Organic group derived from
vitamins.
Prosthetic groups
Coenzymes strongly bond to enzymes