Final answer:
Water-soluble vitamins, such as B complex vitamins and vitamin C, play important roles in energy metabolism and are required as coenzymes. They are absorbed with water, not stored in the body, and any excess amounts are excreted in the urine. Hypervitaminosis of water-soluble vitamins is rare.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water-soluble vitamins, such as the B complex vitamins and vitamin C, have important functions in the human body. They are required as coenzymes or are involved in the synthesis of coenzymes. Coenzymes assist enzymes in catalyzing specific reactions, including decarboxylation and oxidation-reduction reactions. These vitamins are essential for energy metabolism and are involved in both catabolic and anabolic pathways.
Water-soluble vitamins are absorbed with water in the gastrointestinal tract and are not stored in the body. They move easily through bodily fluids and any excess amounts are excreted in the urine. Hypervitaminosis of water-soluble vitamins is rare, except in cases of excessive vitamin supplement intake.