Cofactors, vitamins, and minerals play important roles in metabolism in humans and are involved in various important enzymatic reactions, acting as coenzymes or cofactors to facilitate biochemical processes essential for the breakdown, transformation, and utilization of nutrients for energy production and other vital cellular functions. Cofactors and coenzymes are small molecules that bind to enzymes and help catalyse specific reactions and are necessary for many metabolic pathways. Some important examples of cofactors and coenzymes include: 1) NAD+ (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a coenzyme that plays a central role in redox reactions. It acts as an electron carrier, accepting electrons from substrates during catabolic reactions and donating them to acceptors during anabolic reactions. NAD+ is a key component in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, as well as in other metabolic pathways; 2) FAD (Flavin adenine dinucleotide), another coenzyme involved in redox reactions. It participates in various metabolic pathways, including the citric acid cycle and fatty acid oxidation, where it accepts and donates electrons; 3) Coenzyme A (CoA), a cofactor that plays a critical role in several metabolic pathways, including fatty acid metabolism and the citric acid cycle. It acts as a carrier of acetyl groups, which are essential for the synthesis and breakdown of fatty acids and the generation of energy through the citric acid cycle; 4) ATP (Adenosine triphosphate), a molecule that functions as the primary energy carrier in cells. Vitamins are organic compounds essential for various metabolic processes. They function as coenzymes, precursors of coenzymes, or regulators of enzyme activity. Different vitamins play distinct roles in metabolism. For example, various B vitamins, including B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin), are involved in energy metabolism, carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism, and the synthesis of coenzymes such as NAD+ and CoA. Thiamine is essential for the metabolism of glucose and other carbohydrates, whilst riboflavin is a precursor of the coenzymes FAD and FMN. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from oxidative damage, whilst vitamin D is important for calcium and phosphate homeostasis and is synthesized in the skin upon exposure to sunlight. Finally, vitamin A is crucial for vision, growth, immune function, and cell differentiation. Minerals are inorganic elements essential for various physiological functions, including metabolism. Some key minerals and their roles in metabolism include: 1) Iron, a vital component of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells. Iron is also a cofactor for enzymes involved in energy metabolism and DNA synthesis; 2) Zinc, involved in many enzymatic reactions in cells with roles in protein synthesis, wound healing, immune function, and DNA synthesis; 3) Magnesium, a cofactor for many enzymes in energy metabolism, including those required for ATP synthesis. 4) Calcium, critical for bone health, muscle contraction and nerve transmission. It also acts as a signalling molecule in various metabolic pathways; 5) Potassium and sodium, essential for maintaining proper fluid balance, and involved in the generation and transmission of nerve impulses and maintaining cell membrane potential. We offer a comprehensive product catalogue of research tools for investigating cofactors and vitamins or minerals, including RBP4 antibodies, Carbonic Anhydrase IX antibodies, Ferritin Light Chain antibodies, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 1 ELISA Kits, and TGF beta 1 ELISA Kits. Explore our full cofactors and vitamins or minerals product range below and discover more, for less. Alternatively, you can explore our Vitamins & Minerals and Cofactors product ranges.