What role do vitamins play in energy production?

Vitamins play a crucial role in the processes that produce energy within the body, particularly in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. They act as coenzymes or cofactors that help enzymes carry out biochemical reactions essential for energy production. For instance, B vitamins are involved in converting food into energy at the cellular level, participating in pathways such as glycolysis and the Krebs cycle. While vitamins themselves do not provide energy in the form of calories like macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats), they facilitate the biochemical processes that enable the body to extract and utilize energy from these macronutrients.

The other options suggest direct energy provision, a lack of involvement in energy production, or energy storage, which are not accurate representations of the role vitamins play. Instead, the emphasis should be on their supportive role in enabling the body to harness and metabolize energy from the diet effectively.