Certainly, everyone 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 are full of useful substances. We often hear that during the seasonal "domination" of viruses and bacteria, as well as after physical and mental stress, we need to fill the deficit of vitamins, micro- and macroelements. And sometimes the common man in the street does not know why. The thing is that not everyone knows what the function of vitamins in the human body is.
Who needs them first?
For sure, few will dare challenge the fact that useful substances are necessary for everyone. The function of vitamins is to maintain the normal working capacity of the body. Their deficiency leads to a weakening of health, which entails diseases of various types. Anyway, there are categories of people who need vitally important 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 the strengthening of immunity, which means that every person who cares about his own health must regularly take them. However, before considering the role of the above substances 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 unable to produce on its own. Naturally, this deficiency is compensated with 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 salt - vitamin "B15".Vitamin A belongs to the number of alcohols with a high molecular weight, moreover, sensitive to oxygen and heat.
One part of vitamins is a homogeneous chemical compound, and the other - vitamins "B", "C", "D" - consists of many chemicals.
How do they work?
Still, let's move on to the main question: "What are the functions of vitamins?"
Virtually all of them have a low molecular weight. What does it mean? Only that the main functions of vitamins are complex constructions of all the processes taking place in our body. In spite of the fact that we only need a small concentration of nutrients, vitamins are necessary, primarily because they play a primary role in metabolism, which is a complex system for converting food coming from the outside in the form of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, salts, vitaminsand water. First, the food is crushed, then digested in the course of organic changes, and at the final stage it is transformed into a building material to form new molecules or turns into energy. It is necessary to emphasize that the supply of building material for cells and providing them with energy is not a function of vitamins. They only control that the metabolic processes in the body proceed normally. Thanks to the above useful 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, the organism is a huge chemical enterprise, where energy is produced and construction material for the body cells is manufactured.
Vitamins are an integral part of all living things, they are needed to activate chemical reactions in our tissues. In other words, act as a catalyst, not taking direct part in these reactions. In particular, they "track" the splitting of food into soluble and simple components, "control", so that simple substances are transformed into a source of energy. Undoubtedly, these are unique and vitally important functions of vitamins in the human body. They act as managers: they do not take direct participation in the work, but their presence ensures a harmonious and normal activity of the vital systems. That's what invaluable help for our health vitamins, functions in the body of which are not limited to this. In addition, they activate the process of enzyme formation. Acting as a coenzyme, the vitamin is very mobile: under its influence, all the processes in the body proceed very quickly, for example, when it comes to the decomposition of starch.
As already noted, each group of the above nutrients affects certain organs and tissues, and their deficiency can lead to a health disorder. So, we have considered two main questions, namely: why vitamins, the functions of vitamins, are so important for a person. Avitaminosis, unfortunately, is not uncommon now.
Vitamin "A"
First of all it promotes the growth of a young organism, improves the condition of the epithelium, affects the formation of the skeleton.
In a symbiosis with vitamin C, vitamin A reduces the level of lipids and cholesterol in the blood. Deficiency of this substance leads to dysfunction of the liver, adrenal and thyroid gland.
Vitamin B1
Controls fat, protein metabolism, the synthesis of fatty acids, and also activates the process of converting carbohydrates into fat. In addition, vitamin B1 improves the functioning of the digestive and heart.
Vitamin B2
This organic compound facilitates the conversion of fats and carbohydrates into energy. It is on its number that the temperament and energy of a person depend.
Vitamin B3
It also has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid, liver and adrenal glands. Also vitamin B3 normalizes the function of the nervous system, with its lack of a person there is a sense of anxiety.
Vitamin B6
This compound participates in metabolic processes and the formation of enzymes. In addition, vitamin B6 controls the metabolism of fats.
Vitamin B12
Has anti-anemic effect and also regulates metabolism, promotes normal growth of the child.
Vitamin C
Performs an oxidation-reduction function and is involved in protein metabolism. It also improves immunity and normalizes the psychoemotional state of a person.
Vitamin D
This element controls the deposition of phosphorus and potassium phosphate in bone tissues, its deficiency leads to tooth decay.
In addition, it improves the function of absorption from the intestines 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, accumulation of glycogen and removal of toxins from the body.