Question

Name a vitamin which represents a group of vitamins.

Answer 1

A vitamin is an organic molecule which, for the proper functioning of its metabolism, is an important micronutrient that an organism requires in small quantities.

Complete Answer:
- Three other classes of important nutrients are not protected by the word vitamin: minerals, essential fatty acids and essential amino acids. Most vitamins are not independent molecules, but so-called vitamin classes of similar molecules. For eg, four tocopherols and four tocotrienols constitute vitamin E.
- Some reports list 14 vitamins, including choline, but 13 are listed by major health organisations: vitamin A (as all-trans-retinol, all-trans-retinyl esters, as well as all-trans-beta-carotene and other carotenoids of provitamin A).

- The series of Vitamin B are as follows: vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 ( riboflavin), vitamin B3 ( niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin B12 (cobalamins)

- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin D (calciferol), vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols), and vitamin K (phylloquinone and menaquinones).

Note: Vitamins have biochemical functions that are complex. As a regulator of cell and tissue growth and differentiation, vitamin A functions. Vitamin D has a hormone-like role for bones and other organs to control mineral metabolism. The vitamins in the B complex serve as enzyme cofactors (coenzymes) or their precursors. As antioxidants, vitamins C and E work. Deficient and excessive vitamin intake will potentially cause a clinically important disease, but it is less likely that excessive water-soluble vitamin intake would do so.