Final answer:
The B vitamin required for anaerobic glucose catabolism is (correct option is A.) niacin (Vitamin B3), which is essential for energy metabolism and is a component of coenzymes NAD+ and NADP+ involved in glycolysis and the Krebs cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The B vitamin required for the body to anaerobically catabolize glucose is niacin (Vitamin B3). Niacin is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in energy metabolism and cellular processes. It is a component of the coenzymes NAD+ and NADP+, which are vital for the glycolysis and the Krebs cycle, both of which are pathways involved in the conversion of glucose to ATP, which cells use for energy. While niacin is specifically used in the oxidative reactions, the glycolytic pathway, which is an anaerobic process, indirectly relies on this vitamin through its role in the overall metabolic pathways.
On the other hand, thiamine (Vitamin B1) is associated with the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase, which links glycolysis and the Krebs cycle through the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA. However, this process is not strictly anaerobic. Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is also involved in cellular metabolism as it is a part of the FAD and FMN coenzymes used in the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain, but again these are not exclusive to anaerobic conditions. Vitamin B6, on the other hand, is primarily associated with amino acid metabolism. Therefore, niacin is the correct final answer to the question asked.