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Vitamins As Cofactors

Aug 18, 2011 | By Jeffrey Traister
Vitamins As Cofactors
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Vitamins are organic nutrients essential for health and disease prevention. Vitamins play a role as coenzymes, also called co-factors, in assisting enzymes to function properly. Enzymes are proteins that cause a change in chemicals within your cells. A deficiency of certain vitamins causes deficiencies of substances normally produced from these chemical reactions, which in turn increases risk of disease. Consult your doctor about your diet and the importance of vitamins as cofactors.

Vitamin B-2

Ribioflavin, also called vitamin B-2, is a water-soluble vitamin that acts as a coenzyme for flavin adenine dinucleotide, also called FAD, and flavin mononucleotide, also called FMN. These riboflavin-derived coenzymes are called flavocoenzymes and flavoproteins. Flavocoenzymes are essential for several types of chemical reactions that include oxidation reduction reactions for energy metabolism and antioxidant reactions that involve production of uric acid. Flavocoenzymes are also essential for converting dietary vitamin B-6 into its coenzymatic form, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. A dietary deficiency of riboflavin increases your risk of deficiencies of vitamin B-6 and iron. A riboflavin deficiency also elevates your risk of cataracts, a vision disorder that affects the lens of your eye. Riboflavin is found in whole grains, milk and dairy.

Vitamin B-3

Niacin, also called vitamin B-3, niacinamide or nicotinic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin found in whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs and meat. Niacin forms nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, also called NAD, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, also called NADP. These coenzymes function in oxidation reduction reactions that transfer electrons. NAD is involved in the production of energy from fats, carbohydrates and proteins. NADP is involved in the synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids. NAD and NADP also participate in DNA repair.

Vitamin B-5

Pantothenic acid, also called vitamin B-5, is found your cells in the form of coenzyme A, an essential coenzyme involved in numerous chemical reactions. Your body requires coenzyme A for chemical reactions that generate energy from fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Your body also requires the coenzyme for synthesizing fats, carbohydrates, proteins, acetylcholine, melatonin and heme. Pantothenic acid is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, dairy, eggs, fish and meat.

Vitamin B-6

Vitamin B-6, also called pyridoxine and pyridoxamine, is a water-soluble vitamin found in whole grains, milk, dairy, eggs and meat. Pyridoxine from foods converts into pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, also called P5P, the coenzyme for vitamin B-6. P5P is an essential coenzyme for the production of amino acids, proteins, red blood cells and neurotransmitters, substances in your brain that communicate messages between nerve cells.

References

Article reviewed by Debbie Sprong Last updated on: Aug 18, 2011

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