Biochemistry "Vitamins"

Introduction to Vitamins
Definition: Vitamins are organic molecules that function in a wide

variety of capacities within the body.
Functions: The most prominent function is as cofactors for enzymatic

reactions.
The distinguishing feature of the vitamins is that they generally cannot

be synthesized by mammalian cells and, therefore, must be supplied in
the diet.
The vitamins are of two distinct types according to solubility:
1-Water Soluble Vitamins:
- Thiamin (B1)
- Riboflavin (B2)
- Niacin (B3)
- Pantothenic Acid (B5)
- Pyridoxal, Pyridoxamine, Pyridoxine (B6)
- Biotin
- Cobalamin (B12)
- Folic Acid
- Ascorbic Acid.
2.Fat Soluble Vitamins:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K.
1
Water soluble vitamins
1-Thiamin (vitamin B1)
•Thiamin is rapidly converted to its active form, thiamin

pyrophosphate, TPP, in the brain and liver by a specific enzymes,
thiamin diphosphotransferase. TPP is necessary as a cofactor for:
1-pyruvate dehydrogenase
2-a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase
3- transketolase
A deficiency in thiamin intake leads to a severely reduced capacity of

cells to generate energy as a result of its role in these reactions. The
dietary requirement for thiamin ranges from 1.0 1.5 mg/day for normal
adults.
•Beriberi: The severe thiamin deficiency disease
•Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This disease is most commonly found

in chronic alcoholics due to their poor dietetic lifestyles
2
Riboflavin ( vitamin B2)
Riboflavin is the precursor for the coenzymes, flavin mononucleotide

(FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD).
The enzymes that require FMN or FAD as cofactors are termed

flavoproteins.
Several flavoproteins also contain metal ions and are termed

metalloflavoproteins.
Both classes of enzymes are involved in a wide range of redox

reactions, e.g. succinate dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase.
During the course of the enzymatic reactions involving the

flavoproteins the reduced forms of FMN and FAD are formed, FMNH,
and FADH,, respectively.
•The normal daily requirement for riboflavin is 1.2 - 1.7 mg/day for
normal adults.
•Riboflavin decomposes when exposed to visible light. This

characteristic can lead to riboflavin deficiencies in newborns treated for
hyperbilirubinemia by phototherapy.
Niacin B3
•Niacin (nicotinic acid and nicotinamide) is also known as vitamin B3.

•Niacin is required for the synthesis of the active forms of vitamin B,
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide phosphate (NADP*).
Both NAD* and NADP function as cofactors for numerous

dehydrogenase, e.g., lactate and malate dehydrogenases.
3
The recommended daily requirement for niacin is 13 - 19 mg of free
niacin.
Causes of Niacin deficiency:
1-Pellagra
2-Hartnup disease and malignant carcinoid syndrome)
3- drug therapies (e isoniazid).
nicotinic acid therapy causes:
1- lowers blood cholesterol

2- depletion of glycogen stores and fat reserves in skeletal and
cardiac muscle
3- an elevation in blood glucose and uric acid production. For these
reasons nicotinic acid therapy is not recommended for diabetics
or persons who suffer from gout.
Pantothenic Acid (vitamin B 5)
•Pantothenic acid is formed from B-alanine and pantoic acid.

•Pantothenate is required for:
1-Synthesis of coenzyme A(CoA)

4
2-Component of the acyl carrier protein (ACP) domain of fatty acid
synthase
3-required for the metabolism of carbohydrate via the TCA cycle and
all fats and proteins.
Deficiency of pantothenic acid is extremely rare.
Vitamin B6
Pyridoxal, pyridoxamine and pyridoxine are as a group known as

vitamin B.
•AII three compounds are efficiently converted by pyridoxal kinase to

the biologically active form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal phosphate.
Pyridoxal phosphate functions as
1- cofactor in enzymes involved in transamination reactions

2- required for the synthesis and catabolism of the amino acids
3- in glycogenolysis as a cofactor for glycogen phosphorylase.
•The requirement for vitamin B, in the diet is proportional to the

level of protein consumption ranging from 1.4 - 2.0 mg/day for a
normal adult.
Biotin (Vitamin H, B7)
•Biotin is the cofactor required of enzymes that are involved in

carboxylation reactions, e.g. acetyl-CoA carboxylase and pyruvate
carboxylase.
5
•Deficiencies of the vitamin are rare because
1- Biotin is found in numerous foods

2- Synthesized by intestinal bacteria.
Note: Deficiencies are generally seen only after
1- Long antibiotic therapies which deplete the intestinal fauna

Following excessive consumption of raw eggs because of the affinity
of the egg white protein, avidin, for biotin preventing intestinal
absorption of the biotin.
Cobalamin:
Also called vitamin B12. A vitamin important for the normal
formation of red blood cells and for the health of the nerve tissues.
Undetected and untreated vitamin B12 deficiency can lead
to anemia and permanent nerve and brain damage.
6
Ascorbic acid (Vit.C)
Ascorbic acid forms white crystal wich are stable in air but oxidized
in solution especially in the presence of metallic ions such as Cu+2
being converted in to dehydroascorbic acid.
Action of Vit.C
1-formation of tissue collagen.
2-In the metabolism of tyrosin
3- Inthe formation of folic acid
4-Inthe absorption and utilization of iron.
5-In the regulation of cholesterol metabolism.

Biochemistry "Vitamins"

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Biochemistry "Vitamins"

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Biochemistry "Vitamins"

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction to Vitamins

Definition: Vitamins are organic molecules that function in a wide

Functions: The most prominent function is as cofactors for enzymatic

The distinguishing feature of the vitamins is that they generally cannot

The vitamins are of two distinct types according to solubility:

1-Water Soluble Vitamins:

2.Fat Soluble Vitamins:

•Thiamin is rapidly converted to its active form, thiamin

A deficiency in thiamin intake leads to a severely reduced capacity of

•Beriberi: The severe thiamin deficiency disease

•Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This disease is most commonly found

Riboflavin is the precursor for the coenzymes, flavin mononucleotide

The enzymes that require FMN or FAD as cofactors are termed

Several flavoproteins also contain metal ions and are termed

Both classes of enzymes are involved in a wide range of redox

During the course of the enzymatic reactions involving the

•Riboflavin decomposes when exposed to visible light. This

•Niacin (nicotinic acid and nicotinamide) is also known as vitamin B3.

Both NAD* and NADP function as cofactors for numerous

Causes of Niacin deficiency:

2-Hartnup disease and malignant carcinoid syndrome)

3- drug therapies (e isoniazid).

nicotinic acid therapy causes:

1- lowers blood cholesterol

Pantothenic Acid (vitamin B 5)

•Pantothenic acid is formed from B-alanine and pantoic acid.

1-Synthesis of coenzyme A(CoA)

Deficiency of pantothenic acid is extremely rare.

Pyridoxal, pyridoxamine and pyridoxine are as a group known as

•AII three compounds are efficiently converted by pyridoxal kinase to

1- cofactor in enzymes involved in transamination reactions

•The requirement for vitamin B, in the diet is proportional to the

Biotin (Vitamin H, B7)

•Biotin is the cofactor required of enzymes that are involved in

1- Biotin is found in numerous foods

Note: Deficiencies are generally seen only after

1- Long antibiotic therapies which deplete the intestinal fauna

You might also like