Vitamin B complex
Vitamin B-complex generally refers to a selection of nutrients including, e.g.,
thiamine (B1),
riboflavin (B2),
niacin (B3),
pantothenic acid (B5),
pyridoxine (B6),
biotin (B7 or H),
folic acid (B9), choline, inositol, and
cyanocobalamin (B12)) which have very similar properties and mostly work in synergy.
Nicotinic acid, also known as niacin, is a water-soluble vitamin B-complex used as a dietary supplement and antihyperlipidemic agent. Niacin diminishes the production of VLDL and is effective at lowering LDL. It is used in combination with bile-acid-binding resins. Thiamine is an essential nutrient and an indispensable component in the oxidation of glucose, which is the main source of cellular energy in the central nervous system (CNS). Riboflavin is synthesized by all plants and many microorganisms but is not produced by higher animals. Because it is a precursor to coenzymes such as flavin adenine dinucleotide and flavin mononucleotide, that are required in the enzymatic oxidation of carbohydrates, riboflavin is essential to basic metabolism. In higher animals, insufficient riboflavin can cause loss of hair, inflammation of the skin, vision deterioration, and growth failure. Pyridoxine is required for the balancing of hormonal changes in women as well as assisting the immune system and the growth of new cells. It is also used in the processing and metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Biotin plays an essential role as coenzyme in enzyme-catalyzed carboxylation and decarboxylation reactions. deficiency of biotin can lead to impaired synthesis and metabolism of long chain fatty acids which are important in cutaneous integrity.
Vitamin B5 plays an important role in the secretion of hormones, such as cortisone. Pantothenic acid is also used in the release of energy as well as the metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrates. It is used in the creation of lipids, neurotransmitters, steroid hormones and hemoglobin. Folic acid (folate) is a water-soluble B vitamin that is widely distributed in foods. In the body, folates function as coenzymes in amino acid metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis. Folate deficiencies lead to impaired cell division and altered protein synthesis. Vitamin B12 is a water soluble
vitamin which forms part of the vitamin B complex found in foods and is an essential vitamin necessary for cell proliferation and metabolism. Vitamin B12 is essential to cell growth, cell reproduction, hematopoiesis, DNA synthesis and nucleoprotein synthesis. Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin which cannot be synthesised by animals or plants and must be absorbed from food in the gut. Choline, a natural amine, is often classed in the vitamin B complex and is a constituent of many other biologically important molecules. Choline is a precursor of a variety of lipids including the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, membrane lipids such as phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin, and signaling lipids such as platelet-activating factor and sphingosylphosphorylcholine. Inositol is necessary for the formation of lecithin, aids in the breakdown of fats, helps reduce blood cholesterol, and helps prevent thinning hair.
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