Of course, every person knows that vitamins are necessary for the normal functioning of the body. We are regularly told about the need to eat fruits and vegetables, they say, they abound in useful substances. We often hear that during the seasonal “dominance” of viruses and bacteria, as well as after physical and mental stress, we need to make up for the deficiency of vitamins, micro and macro elements. And sometimes a simple layman does not know why this is necessary. The thing is that not everyone knows what the function of vitamins in the human body is.
Who needs them first?
Surely few dare to challenge the fact that beneficial substances are necessary for everyone. The function of vitamins is to maintain the normal functioning of the body. Their deficiency leads to poor health, which entails diseases of various types. One way or another, but there are categories of people who need vital substances: children, adolescents, patients, pregnant and lactating women.
However, this does not mean that other people can do without them. The fact is that another important function of vitamins is to strengthen immunity, which means that everyone who cares about their own health is obliged to take them regularly. However, before considering the question of what role the above substances play in our body, we will determine what they are.
What do we know about them?
Vitamins are a special kind of organic compounds that the body is not able to produce on its own. Naturally, this deficiency is compensated by food.
It should be noted that the function of vitamins is different, depending on the structure of the chemical compound. In particular, there are acids, such as, for example, vitamin "C". There are also salts - vitamin B15. Vitamin A is one of the high molecular weight alcohols that are also sensitive to oxygen and heat.
One part of the vitamins is a homogeneous chemical compounds, and the other - vitamins "B", "C", "D" - consists of many chemicals.
How do they work?
And yet, let's move on to the main question: “What are the functions of vitamins?”
Almost all of them have a low molecular weight. What does it mean? Only that the main functions of vitamins are the complex constructions of all the processes taking place in our body. Despite the fact that we need only a small concentration of nutrients, we need vitamins, first of all, because they play a paramount role in metabolism, which is a complex system for converting food coming from the outside in the form of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, salts, vitamins and water. First, food is ground, then digested during organic changes, and at the final stage it is transformed into building material to form new molecules or converted into energy. It must be emphasized that the supply of building material for cells and providing them with energy are not functions of vitamins. They only control that the metabolic processes in the body proceed normally. Thanks to the above beneficial substances in our body, biochemical reactions are possible. Their action is equivalent to the action of water, which, having a sparse structure, can leak into all tissues and organs.
And yet, why are they so needed?
In the figurative sense of the word, an organism is a huge chemical enterprise, where energy is produced and building material is made for the cells of the body.
Vitamins are an integral component of all living things, they are needed to activate chemical reactions in our tissues. In other words, they act as a catalyst without directly participating in these reactions. In particular, they “track” the breakdown of food into soluble and simple components, “control” so that simple substances are transformed into an energy source. Of course, these are the unique and vital functions of vitamins in the human body. They seem to act as managers: they do not take a direct part in the work, but their presence ensures the harmonious and normal functioning of life systems. Here are some invaluable help for our health vitamins, the functions in the body of which are not limited to this. On top of that, they activate the process of enzyme formation. Acting as a coenzyme, the vitamin is very mobile: under its influence, all processes in the body proceed very quickly, for example, when it comes to the breakdown of starch.
As already noted, each group of the above beneficial substances acts on certain organs and tissues, and their deficiency can lead to health problems. So, we examined two main questions, namely: why vitamins and vitamin functions are so important for a person. Avitaminosis, unfortunately, is not uncommon now.
Vitamin A"
First of all, it promotes the growth of a young body, improves the condition of the epithelium, affects the formation of the skeleton.
In symbiosis with vitamin C, vitamin A lowers blood lipids and cholesterol. Deficiency of this substance leads to dysfunction of the liver, adrenal glands and thyroid gland.
Vitamin B1
It controls the fat and protein metabolism, the synthesis of fatty acids, and also activates the process of converting carbohydrates to fat. In addition, vitamin B1 improves the functioning of the digestive system and heart.
Vitamin B2
This organic compound helps to convert fats and carbohydrates into energy. It is on its quantity that the person’s temperament and energy depend.
Vitamin B3
It also has beneficial effects on the functioning of the thyroid gland, liver and adrenal glands. Also, vitamin B3 normalizes the function of the nervous system, with its deficiency, a person has a feeling of anxiety.
Vitamin B6
This compound is involved in metabolic processes and the formation of enzymes. In addition, vitamin B6 controls the metabolism of fats.
Vitamin B12
It has an antianemic effect and also regulates the metabolism, contributes to the normal growth of the child.
Vitamin C
It performs a redox function and is involved in protein metabolism. It also improves immunity and normalizes the psycho-emotional state of a person.
Vitamin D
This element controls the deposition of phosphorus and potassium phosphate in bone tissue, its deficiency leads to tooth decay.
In addition, it improves the intestinal absorption function of phosphorus and calcium salts.
Vitamin E
It is vital for pregnant women, as it contributes to the normal development of the fetus. It also activates the production of seminal fluid.
Vitamin PP
Normalizes the digestive system, improves liver function: promotes pigmentation, the accumulation of glycogen and the removal of toxins from the body.