| Vitamin |
Activities |
| |
| Vitamin
A |
Reproduction, normal structure and function of epithelial cells, cell differentiation. |
| Vitamin
D |
Regulates the expression of nearly 50 genes, the products of which are involved in cell differentiation and proliferation, energy metabolism, and hormonal signaling. Helps maintain serum phosphorous and calcium within normal. Regulates intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorous. Regulates calcium and phosphorous resorption from bone.
|
| Vitamin
E |
Antioxidant. Protects polyunsaturated membrane phospholipids and other substances from oxidative damage. |
| Vitamin
K |
Functions in the metabolism of clotting factors. Role in skeletal development. |
| Niacin |
A component of the active cofactors NAD+/NAD(H) and NAPD+/NADP(H). Used by more than.30 dehydrogenases in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and protein. Functions in repair of DNA. Aids in calcium mobilization. Can be synthesized from tryptophan. |
| Thiamin |
Precursor to the magnesium-coordinated coenzyme thiamin pyrophosphate for the decarboxylation of alpha ketoacids and for the activity of transketolase in pentose PO4 pathways. Functions in nerve conduction. |
| Riboflavin |
Component of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Acts as an electron transport intermediary for oxidation-reduction reactions. |
| Pantothenic
acid |
A component of coenzyme A and acyl-carrier protein, Important in the synthesis/oxidation of fatty acids. Aids energy release from fat, carbohydrate and ketogenic amino acids. Involved in the TCA cycle, gluconeogenesis, in heme and sterol synthesis. |
| Vitamin
C |
Antioxidant. Protects cytosolic substances from oxidative damage. Cytochrome P-450-dependent oxidations (drug and cholesterol metabolism, steroid hydroxylations). Involved in synthesis of carnitine, collagen, neurotransmitters. Cofactor in iron absorption. Supports the immune-mediated and antibacterial functions of white blood cells. |
| Folic
Acid |
Role in amino acid metabolism and in nucleic acid synthesis in its active form of tetrahydrofolate. |
| Vitamin
B12 |
Needed for conversion of homocysteine to methionine which liberates tetrahydrofolate for use in synthesis of DNA. Involved in amino acid and fatty acid metabolism. |
fatty
acid metabolism. |
| Vitamin
B6 |
Metabolism of amino acids, glycogen, and epinephrine. Involved in >100 enzymatic reactions, protein and lipid metabolism, gluconeogenesis, neurotransmitter synthesis, heme synthesis and immune function. |
| Biotin |
Involved in fatty acid synthesis, gluconeogenesis and branched chain amino acid catabolism. |
Clinical
Point:
Here is a good summary table for you to review sources and functions
of vitamins. Use this as a reference. 
