What type of chemicals inhibit essential enzymes in metabolism?

The correct choice, poisons, refers to substances that can disrupt metabolic processes by inhibiting essential enzymes. Enzymes are crucial biological catalysts that facilitate biochemical reactions within living organisms. When a poison targets and inhibits an enzyme, it can significantly interfere with metabolic pathways, potentially leading to harmful effects on cellular function and overall health.

Poisons can work in various ways to deactivate enzymes; for instance, they might bind to the active site of an enzyme, preventing the substrate from accessing it, or they might alter the enzyme's structure in a way that diminishes its activity.

In contrast, vitamins and minerals play vital roles as co-factors or co-enzymes in metabolic reactions. They support enzyme function rather than inhibit it. Hormones, while they can regulate metabolic processes, are signaling molecules and do not directly inhibit enzymes themselves. Therefore, the ability of poisons to disrupt enzyme function makes them the appropriate answer to the question regarding inhibition of essential enzymes in metabolism.