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A provitamin is a precursor to a vitamin, meaning it's a chemical compound that can be converted into a vitamin within an organism. Vitamins are essential organic compounds that play crucial roles in metabolism, often acting as coenzymes that assist enzymes in chemical reactions. While higher plants can synthesize their own vitamins, many animals, including humans, have lost this ability and must obtain certain vitamins from their diet. The B vitamins, for example, are water-soluble and are vital for various metabolic processes.123

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