What is the Difference Between Vitamins and Amino Acids

The key difference between vitamins and amino acids is that vitamins are micronutrients that mainly function as cofactors and coenzymes in different metabolic processes such as protein synthesis, while amino acids are the fundamental building blocks of protein, which is one of the most important macronutrients in the human body.

Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are the central components to sustain human life. They are organic compounds. A proper balance of them ensures proper mental and physical functioning. The body on its own cannot produce all of the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. So, the human body needs to take it from foods. Sometimes, even these sources fall short of providing the body with maximum nourishment, so additional supplementation is required. Moreover, Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids supplementation should be part of a larger comprehensive plan that will help the day-to-day lives of humans.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Vitamins  
3. What are Amino Acids
4. Similarities – Vitamins and Amino Acids
5. Vitamins vs Amino Acids in Tabular Format
6. Summary – Vitamins vs Amino Acids

What are Vitamins?

Vitamins are micronutrients that mainly function as cofactors and coenzymes in different metabolic processes such as protein synthesis. Vitamins are considered to be micronutrients as the human body normally needs them in small quantities. Like proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, vitamins do not form structure or directly participate in biochemical reactions. They mainly assist organic molecules as well as other inorganic molecules to efficiently react to fulfill specific functions.

Vitamins are mainly divided into two types: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin A (important for vision), D (important for bone health), E (antioxidant), and K (important for the synthesis of various proteins). Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C (master antioxidant), B1 (important for breaking down glucose, DNA, and RNA synthesis), B2 (a coenzyme that acts as an electron carrier), B3 (important for breaking down carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins),  B5 (plays a role in the synthesis of coenzyme A and acyl protein carrier), B6 (plays an important role in the synthesis of proteins from amino acids), B7 (important in Kreb’s cycle and metabolizing lipids), B9 (important for the development of the brain of the fetus, DNA and RNA synthesis), and B12 (important for the synthesis of red blood cells.

What are Amino Acids?

Amino acids are the fundamental building blocks of proteins, which are one of the most important macronutrients in the human body. Amino acids are organic compounds that contain an amino group (NH3), carboxylic group (COOH), along with a side chain (R group) specific to each amino acid.

There are a total of 20 amino acids common in all life forms. Out of them, there are 9 essential amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, histidine, lysine, methionine, threonine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and valine. The other 11 none essential amino acids are arginine, alanine, aspartic acid, asparagines, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, serine, and tyrosine. Furthermore, the functions of the amino acids include breaking down foods, growing, and repairing body tissues, making hormones and neurotransmitters, providing energy sources, maintaining healthy skin, hair and nail, building muscles, boosting the immune system, and sustaining a normal digestive system.

What are the Similarities Between Vitamins and Amino Acids?

• Vitamins and amino acids are the central components to sustain human life.
• Both are organic compounds.
• A proper balance of both ensures proper mental and physical functioning.
• The deficiency of both causes different diseases.
• They are extremely important for sustaining human life.

What is the Difference Between Vitamins and Amino Acids?

Vitamins are micronutrients that mainly function as cofactors and coenzymes in different metabolic processes such as protein synthesis, while amino acids are the fundamental building blocks of proteins, which are important macronutrients found in the human body. This is the key difference between vitamins and amino acids. Furthermore, vitamins are needed only in small quantities by the human body, but amino acids are needed in large quantities by the human body.

The following table summarizes the difference between vitamins and amino acids.

Summary – Vitamins vs Amino Acids

Vitamins and amino acids are two central components required to sustain human life. Vitamins are micronutrients that mainly function as cofactors and coenzymes in different metabolic processes such as protein synthesis. On the other hand, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. There are 20 different amino acids found in the human body. This summarizes the difference between vitamins and amino acids.

Reference:

1. “Vitamins: What Are They, and What Do They Do?” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
2. “Amino Acid.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc..

Image Courtesy:

1. “Vitamin injection vial glass bottles” (CC0) via Raw Pixel
2. “Amino Acids” By Dancojocari – Own work Print It Here (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia