Question

What are the principal functions of vitamins and why are they essential to life and health?

Answer 1

Ans) Vitamins: Definition:

Any of various organic substances that are essential in minute quantities to the nutrition of most animals and some plants, act especially as coenzymes and precursors of coenzymes in the regulation of metabolic processes but do not provide energy or serve as building units, and are present in natural foodstuffs or sometimes produced within the body.

- These are micronutrients essential for our body.

Principle functions of Vitamins:

- They activate enzymes (serve as co-enzymes) in the conversion of macronutrients into energy.

- Fat soluble vitamins ( A, D, E, K) serve as structural and regulatory processes in the body.

- Water soluble vitamins ( B, C) acts as a coenzyme.

* Vitamins are considered essential to life and health because the body can't produce it enough & cannot store also as it can cause toxicity.

- They perform hundreds of roles in the body.

- They help bone formation, wound healing and boosts immune system.

- They also convert food into energy, and repair cellular damage.

- They also help in metabolism, digestion.

- So in order to meet our body's requirements for normal growth and functions, vitamins are essential.