Tag: Vitamin b13

Historically, the term "Vitamin B13" was used for orotic acid, an intermediary molecule involved in the body's synthesis of pyrimidines, which are essential for creating nucleic acids. Today, however, orotic acid is no longer considered a true vitamin by the scientific community because the human body produces it endogenously and does not require it from the diet.

Orotic acid, once mistakenly identified as "vitamin B13," is an intermediate in pyrimidine biosynthesis found naturally in various foods. Primarily sourced from dairy products, the concentration of orotic acid can vary depending on the animal source and processing methods.

First discovered in cow's milk in 1905, orotic acid was once mistakenly identified and named Vitamin B13, a classification that has since been corrected. Today, nutritional science recognizes that this compound, orotate, is a vital intermediate in the body's synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides, not a vitamin we must consume through diet.

First discovered in 1905, the substance once identified as vitamin B13 is now known not to be a vitamin at all, but a naturally occurring organic compound called orotic acid. This shift in classification highlights key developments in nutritional science and a better understanding of how our bodies function.