SCIENCEALERT STAFF
Vitamin is a term used to describe the range of organic compounds an organism produces in insufficient quantities (if at all), yet still requires for important functions in its body.
To acquire these essential micronutrients, the organism must scavenge them from appropriate food sources. Since organisms make these vital molecules in varying amounts, a much-needed nutrient for one living thing won t be scarce enough to be considered a vitamin in another. For example, dogs synthesize their own vitamin C (in their livers), but fish, birds, guinea pigs, and humans cannot.
These chemicals carry out a wide variety of tasks to help an organism grow, reproduce, or simply survive. Some act as signals, regulating metabolism of other materials. Others help enzymes work either directly as a cofactor, or indirectly in the production of one.