Which of the following can be taken as provitamins

Options

A. Ergosterol
B. Carotene
C. Calciferol
D. Both (1 ) and (2)

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding Provitamins:**
- Provitamins are substances that can be converted into vitamins through metabolic processes in the body. They are not vitamins themselves but serve as precursors.

2. **Examples of Provitamins:**
- Two well-known examples of provitamins are **ergosterol** and **beta carotene**.

3. **Ergosterol:**
- Ergosterol is a type of sterol found in the cell membranes of fungi. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the cell membrane, similar to cholesterol in animal cells.
- When ergosterol is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light (such as sunlight), it undergoes a chemical reaction that converts it into **vitamin D2**.

4. **Beta Carotene:**
- Beta carotene is a pigment found in plants that gives them their orange and yellow color. It is a precursor to vitamin A.
- The body can convert beta carotene into **retinol**, which is the active form of vitamin A. This conversion is facilitated by specific enzymes in the body.

5. **Biological Activity:**
- Beta carotene has about one-sixth of the biological activity of retinol, meaning that it takes a larger amount of beta carotene to achieve the same biological effect as retinol.

**Final Answer:**
- The substances that can be taken as provitamins are **ergosterol** and **beta carotene**.

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