Vitamins are essential organic compounds that are required in small amounts for the proper functioning and maintenance of the human body. They play crucial roles as coenzymes, helping enzymes carry out various metabolic processes.
There are two main types of vitamins.
Fat-soluble vitamins are a group of vitamins that are soluble in fats and oils, and they are absorbed and stored in the body’s fatty tissues. These vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Due to their solubility in fat, they require the presence of dietary fat for proper absorption in the intestines.
Water-soluble vitamins are a group of vitamins that are soluble in water and are not stored to a significant extent in the body. They include vitamin C and the B-vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folate, and cobalamin).