ABSTRACT

Vitamins are a group of complex organic compounds that are essential to normal functioning and metabolic reactions in the body. Vitamins are not utilized as a source of energy or structural tissue components, but rather as cofactors or coenzymes in biochemical reactions. Vitamins are divided into two categories based on their solubility-those soluble in fat solvents are known as fat-soluble vitamins and those soluble in water are known as water-soluble vitamins. Table 24.1 lists the

Ta bl

e 24

.1