Co-Factor

A cofactor is a non-protein molecule that supports a biochemical reaction. Cofactors can

take the form of metal ions, organic substances or other molecules with beneficial
characteristics not typically present in amino acids. While some cofactors, like ATP, can be
produced by the body, others must be obtained through food.

The human body is composed of various cell types, tissues, and other specialized organs.
The biological processes of breathing, digestion, excretion, and a few other metabolic
activities are accelerated by chemicals that our body produces for effective functioning
to maintain a healthy life. Enzymes are therefore essential to all living things to control all
biological activities.

Many enzymes are basic proteins composed primarily of one or more amino acid
sequences. The proper operation of other enzymes depends on a cofactor, a non-protein
substance they consist of. Cofactors come in two varieties: organic molecules called
coenzymes and inorganic ions like zinc or copper ions. Most coenzymes are either derived
from vitamins or are themselves vitamins.

Several cofactors are required by certain enzymes or enzyme complexes. For instance,
the multienzyme complex pyruvate dehydrogenase at the convergence of glycolysis and
the citric acid cycle involves one metal ion and five organic cofactors. These include a
metal ion (Mg2+), covalently bound lipoamide and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD),
loosely attached thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), and co-substrates nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide (NAD+) and coenzyme A (CoA).

Cofactors play an important role in understanding how biological activities occur at the
biochemical level. How rapidly a reaction moves from its reactant to its product may
depend on whether cofactors are present or absent.
Understanding cofactors is essential for studying health at the biological level. Humans
and animals may suffer life-threatening illnesses or eventually die without the necessary
cofactors.

Minerals come from the environment and cannot be produced by any living being. Our
bodies cannot produce the organic molecules “vitamins,” so we must consume foods
containing vitamins for our cells to execute essential life functions.

Examples of Cofactors

Folic Acid or Vitamin B9

Vitamin B9 or folic acid is frequently added to meals to promote general health. Amino
acids, DNA and RNA must be produced by the body for cells to grow and divide.

Folic acid is important for expectant mothers, whose fetuses are rapidly generating new
cells and organs. Folic acid deficiency can result in birth abnormalities in children or
anemia in expectant mothers who may not be able to produce sufficient new blood cells
to sustain both themselves and the child.

Thiamine or Vitamin B1

Vitamin B1 is mostly present in edible seeds including beans, corn and rice. Thiamine is
commonly added artificially to foods containing wheat, such as morning cereals, to
enhance public health.

Thiamine helps the body produce various coenzymes that support important functions.
Thiamine is converted into thiamine pyrophosphate, required to metabolize
carbohydrates and amino acids.

Korsakoff Syndrome, a rare neurological condition found in patients with severe alcohol
addiction, can have several causes, including acute thiamine deficiency.
Iron-Sulphur Clusters

Iron-Sulphur clusters are groups of iron and Sulphur ions that can arrange themselves into
stable configurations. In contrast to amino acids and other chemical molecules, these
clusters exhibit various unique characteristics.

Due to their specific features, iron-Sulphur clusters are useful for biological processes
involving electron transfers. This makes iron-Sulphur clusters an essential component of
enzymes and cofactors in energy transfer and electron transfer, such as Complex I and
Complex II in the mitochondria, coenzyme Q, cytochrome C, and NADH dehydrogenase.

Vitamins

Vitamins are organic substances that act as cofactors in essential metabolic processes.
Since the body cannot produce vitamins, they must usually be obtained through diet.

Numerous vitamins serve as cofactors to enable enzymes to catalyze processes, including

the production of essential proteins. For example, vitamin C functions as a cofactor in the
synthesis of collagen, a protein found in connective tissue.

Vitamin deficiency is a good example of a cofactor deficiency. Similar to how there are
conceivable vitamin deficiencies with various symptoms, there are various cofactors that
our body needs to carry out its different essential biochemical reactions.

Minerals

Like vitamins, minerals are substances that must be consumed for our cells to function
effectively. The difference is that minerals are inorganic compounds that naturally occur
and are commonly found in rocks and soil, whereas vitamins are organic molecules,
containing carbon, generally produced by other living things.
Minerals essential for human wellness include copper, necessary for the function of
certain liver enzymes that break down toxins. Iron is essential for the function of essential
metabolic enzymes. The mineral magnesium is required for the function of DNA
polymerase and many other enzymes. And zinc is also essential for DNA polymerase and
some liver enzymes.

Organic Non-Vitamin Cofactors

Several cofactors are organic components that are not considered enzymes. Some of
these might be produced by our bodies and are not considered vitamins.

ATP is an organic, non-vitamin cofactor that provides energy to various enzymes,

transportation of proteins, and other metabolic activities. Coenzyme Q is an essential
component of the mitochondrial transport chain. To transport oxygen throughout the
body, our blood cells need heme which is a complex iron-containing molecule.

Functions of Enzyme Cofactors

Cofactors usually have the function of contributing chemical groups or qualities that are
absent from other chemical groups.

For example, the cofactor ATP can transfer energy, which it uses to conduct chemical
reactions like enzyme activities and protein transportation.

On the other hand, heme is an iron-containing chemical complex which connects with
oxygen molecules. Our blood cells need heme to transport oxygen throughout our bodies.

As a result, cofactors may have a wide range of functions depending on their chemical
components and characteristics.
Coenzymes are not recognized as a component of the structure of an enzyme. They are
referred to as co-substrates. Coenzymes need an enzyme to function; they are unable to
do it on their own. Some enzymes require many cofactors and coenzymes.

Examples of Coenzymes

The B vitamins act as coenzymes, which are necessary for enzymes to produce
carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.

S-adenosyl methionine is an example of a non-vitamin coenzyme that carries a methyl

group in bacteria, eukaryotes and archaea.

VITAMIN B TYPES

In general, B complex vitamins function as it has been described before. However, each
of the B complex vitamins has its role in the body.

What is the effect of the individual B complex vitamins?

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is a coenzyme in the metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates

necessary for energy production. It participates in the transmission of nerve impulses.
Large amounts of vitamin B1 are found in tissues that intensively consume energy -
skeletal muscles, heart muscle, brain, liver and kidneys.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is involved in the release of energy stored in nutrients and

oxidation-reduction processes.

Vitamin B3 (niacin) produces the important coenzymes NAD and NADP, which participate
in over 50 oxidation-reduction reactions. It is also involved in aerobic and anaerobic
energy production, production of fatty acids, cholesterol, sex hormones and cortisol, as
well as DNA repair.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is a component of coenzyme A (CoA), which takes part in
numerous transformations related to the energy metabolism of the body. Pantothenic
acid participates in the production of cholesterol, steroid hormones, vitamins A and D,
hemoglobin and neurotransmitters.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a co-factor for more than 100 enzymes that are primarily
involved in the metabolism of amino acids, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis and fat, as
well as the synthesis of heme and neurotransmitters.

Vitamin B7 (biotin) is a component of many enzymes involved in various metabolic

processes. Biotin influences the correct development of the organism as well as the
condition of the skin and hair growth.

Vitamin B9 (folic acid) is essential for DNA synthesis, protein and DNA methylation,
production of phospholipids, proteins and blood cells. Without vitamin B9 proper growth
and development of the body are impossible. Vitamin B9 is particularly important during
pregnancy, and its deficiency is responsible for defects in the nervous system of the fetus.

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) along with vitamin B9 is involved in the production of red and
white blood cells, genetic material, amino acids and bone marrow proteins. It takes part
in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. It ensures the proper function of the
nervous system and digestive tract.

What does vitamin B complex help?

Apart from playing a key role in the functioning of the body, vitamin B complex may help
in some diseases - prevent Parkinson's disease, protect against various types of cancer,
improve mood, reduce symptoms of stress, reduce anxiety, reduce the frequency of
migraines and contribute to the reduction of fatigue.
The body's requirement for vitamin B complex

The need of the body for B-complex vitamins strictly depends on age and physiological
state, as well as to a large extent on the level of physical activity and daily supplied
calories. The more nutrients you eat, the more vitamin B complex your body requires. It
is due to the metabolic activity of vitamin B compositum.

Symptoms of B complex deficiency

The effect of vitamin B complex concentrates on supplying energy to every cell of the
body, forming cell structures, genetic material, red and white blood cells,
neurotransmitters and hormones. Therefore, symptoms of B complex deficiency are
seen in the skin (abnormal reconstruction of cell structures), the nervous system
(deficiency of neurotransmitters) and the digestive tract (control of nutrient
metabolism).

A deficiency of a set of B vitamins can manifest itself:

• skin rashes,
• cracks around the mouth and flaky skin on the lips,
• swollen tongue,
• chronic fatigue,
• weakness,
• anaemia,
• a feeling of disorientation,
• irritability,
• depression,
• nausea,
• abdominal cramps,
 • diarrhoea,
• constipation,
• numbness or tingling in the feet and hands.

With vitamin B complex deficiency, the risk of anaemia, digestive problems, skin
disorders, infections and peripheral neuropathy increases.