Which vitamins are used in carbohydrate metabolism?

The appropriate answer highlights the critical roles of niacin, pyridoxine, and thiamin in carbohydrate metabolism.

Thiamin, also known as vitamin B1, is essential for the decarboxylation of pyruvate and the metabolism of glucose through the pentose phosphate pathway, facilitating the conversion of carbohydrates to energy. Pyridoxine, or vitamin B6, plays a vital role in amino acid metabolism and is involved in glycogenolysis, the process of breaking down glycogen into glucose. Niacin, which encompasses nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, is crucial for the formation of NAD and NADP, two coenzymes that participate in oxidative phosphorylation and energy production from carbohydrates.

These vitamins collectively ensure that carbohydrates can be efficiently converted into energy that the body can utilize. Their involvement in metabolic pathways highlights their essential nature in not merely carbohydrate utilization but overall energy metabolism.

Other provided options either include vitamins that do not significantly contribute to carbohydrate metabolism or encompass a broader range of B vitamins without specificity to carbohydrate related processes. This focused interaction between niacin, pyridoxine, and thiamin in glucose oxidation underscores their critical importance in the metabolic handling of carbohydrates.