YOU ARE HERE ThinkNatural / Vitamin Supplements / Vitamin B

Vitamin B

‘Vitamin B’ actually refers to a group of at least 8 different similar chemicals, though historically they were thought to be a single substance. They all play important roles in cell metabolism, which means that while they are vital, it is difficult to describe exactly what they do. Generally speaking, they are necessary to:
• Support the rate of metabolism
• Maintain healthy skin
• Enhance immune and nervous function
• Promote cell growth (including red blood cells)
• Reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer
The B vitamins are water soluble, which means we need a constant supply and cannot store them in the body. A vitamin B ‘complex’ is a supplement that contains all the vitamin B groups.

Which Foods have Vitamin B in?
The best sources of vitamin B are from meat and dairy products, which is why vitamin B deficiency is a possible issue of vegetarianism. In particular, B-12 is not available from plant sources, and is a concern for veganism. Other sources include bananas, lentils and brewer’s yeast.

Why might I need vitamin B supplements?
The B vitamins are absolutely vital to life – you cannot survive without them. Since there are so many different forms of vitamin B, each with their own special role, the list of possible deficiencies is extensive. Generally, a deficiency of B vitamins leads to nervous system problems including depression, mood swings, weakness, pins and needles, poor muscle and nerve function and irregular heartbeat.

You might think about taking a vitamin B supplement if you have any of these symptoms. Some forms of dermatitis and acne have also been caused by a deficiency of B vitamins. Alcohol interferes with the absorption of thiamine, and B1 deficiency is a concern for alcoholics.

Other information
The names of the individual vitamins are thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folic acid (B9), and vitamin B12. There are a number of related compounds, but they are not considered vitamins since the body can manufacture them itself.