Question

Thiamine is

• A. Nitrogenous base
• B. Amino acid
• C. Hormone
• D. Vitamin

Hint:

Important B-complex vitamins: \[ B_1=\text{Thiamine} \] \[ B_2=\text{Riboflavin} \] \[ B_3=\text{Niacin} \] \[ B_{12}=\text{Cyanocobalamin} \] Deficiency of thiamine causes beriberi.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The name itself is a strong clue, thiamine is simply the chemical name for vitamin B1.

It is a small water soluble organic molecule the body needs in tiny amounts from the diet, its active coenzyme form, thiamine pyrophosphate, helps enzymes process carbohydrates and keeps nerve cells functioning properly, deficiency causes beriberi.

It is not a nitrogenous base like adenine or thymine, it is not an amino acid since it lacks the amino acid backbone, and it is not a hormone since it is not secreted by an endocrine gland to signal other cells, it is obtained from the diet and used directly as a coenzyme precursor.

So thiamine belongs to the vitamin category, and the correct choice is option (4).