Question

What are the two characteristics that define a vitamin?

Answer 1

Vitamins are organic compounds, has to take through the diet in small quantities to perform vital biological functions that are essential for maintainence of normal growth and development

The two characteristics that define a vitamin are

• Vitamins are essential to perform vital biological functions in the body- (their deficiency leads to serious disorders)
• Required relatively small quantities to perform its function

For example vitamin B₁ is important for metabolism of carbohydrates and normal functioning of nerves. Deficiency of vitamin B1 leads to impairment of nerve functioning and muscle wasting