Which group of vitamins are primarily involved in energy metabolism?

The group of vitamins primarily involved in energy metabolism is the water-soluble vitamins. These vitamins include the B-complex vitamins, such as thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin, folate (B9), and cobalamin (B12). Each of these vitamins plays a critical role in various biochemical pathways that convert carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into usable energy for the body.

For example, thiamine is essential for the metabolism of glucose, while riboflavin and niacin are key components of coenzymes involved in the oxidative pathways that generate ATP, the energy currency of the cell. Additionally, certain B vitamins are involved in the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain, both of which are crucial for energy production.

In contrast, fat-soluble vitamins (such as A, D, E, and K) are primarily involved in functions like vision, bone health, antioxidant activity, and blood clotting, rather than directly participating in energy metabolism. Trace minerals and macrominerals also have specific roles in the body, but they do not function like vitamins in the direct