What is vitamin b

Another line of research about folate and two other B vitamins, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, explores their roles in reducing some types of cancer and heart disease. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products. Skip to content The Nutrition Source. Harvard T. They may not be able to absorb cobalamin properly. Gastritis, celiac disease , and inflammatory bowel disease may lead to a deficiency because these conditions cause the absorption of nutrients to be reduced.

People with chronic alcoholism may lack vitamin B , as their bodies are also not able to absorb nutrients efficiently. Individuals treating diabetes with metformin are advised to monitor their levels of vitamin B Metformin might reduce the absorption of vitamin B Treatment includes vitamin B injections. A vitamin B injection must be administered to people that have problems with nutrient absorption.

Some people have difficulties absorbing vitamin B from food sources and may need to take supplements. This includes older adults, patients with pernicious anemia, and those with achlorhydria or intestinal disorders may have problems absorbing vitamin B from food.

Supplements can be taken orally or in a nasal spray. However, oral supplements do not help in many cases of deficiency. In these circumstances, vitamin B may be injected.

Vegans can take supplements to avoid deficiency, as the vegan diet remove the meat products that provide B naturally. This is particularly important during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Various B supplements are available to purchase in health food stores and online. The side effects of taking vitamin B are very limited. It is not considered to be toxic in high quantities, and even mcg doses are not thought to be harmful. There have been no reports of an adverse reaction to B since when a person in Germany reported rosacea as a result of a B supplement.

Cases of Btriggered acne have also been reported. Cyanocobalamin is an injectable form of the supplement that contains traces of cyanide, a poisonous substance. As a result, some concerns have been raised about its possible effects. However, many fruits and vegetables contain these traces, and it is not considered a significant health risk.

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Everything you need to know about vitamin B Vitamins naturally occur in food and are needed in very small amounts for various bodily functions such as energy production and making red blood cells. There are 13 vitamins that our body needs, eight of which make up the B-group or B-complex vitamins. The B-group vitamins do not provide the body with fuel for energy, even though supplement advertisements often claim they do.

This is because the B-group vitamins are needed to help the body to use the energy-yielding nutrients such as carbohydrates, fat and protein for fuel. Other B-group vitamins are needed to help cells to multiply by making new DNA.

Even though the B-group vitamins are found in many foods, they are water soluble and are generally quite delicate. They are easily destroyed, particularly by alcohol and cooking. Food processing can also reduce the amount of B-group vitamins in foods — either by destroying them, or in white flours, white breads and white rice removing the parts that contain the most B-group vitamins.

This is one of the reasons white flours, white breads and white rice are less nutritious than their wholegrain counterparts. The body has a limited capacity to store most of the B-group vitamins except B12 and folate, which are stored in the liver. A person who has a poor diet for a few months may end up with B-group vitamins deficiency. The body only needs small amounts of vitamins and most of these needs can be met by eating a nutritious diet. Taking vitamins that your body does not need can mean, at a best-case scenario, that your body gets rid of the excess in your urine so you waste your money.

But some vitamins can also be toxic if taken incorrectly, so you could also be damaging your body instead of helping it. Some B-group vitamins also work together in the body for example, vitamin B12 and folate or folic acid. This means taking supplements can sometimes hide deficiencies of other vitamins, which can also lead to health problems. Thiamin is also known as vitamin B1. It helps to convert glucose into energy and has a role in nerve function. Thiamin deficiency is generally found in countries where the dietary staple is white rice.

Symptoms include — confusion, irritability, poor arm or leg or both coordination, lethargy, fatigue and muscle weakness. Beriberi is a condition caused by thiamin deficiency and affects the cardiovascular, muscular, gastrointestinal and nervous systems.

Alcohol reduces thiamin absorption in the gut and increases its excretion from the kidneys. Riboflavin deficiency or ariboflavinosis is rare and is usually seen along with other B-group vitamin deficiencies.

People at risk include those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol and those who do not consume milk or milk products. Niacin is essential for the body to convert carbohydrates, fat and alcohol into energy. It helps maintain skin health and supports the nervous and digestive systems. Unlike other B-group vitamins, niacin is very heat stable and little is lost in cooking. People who drink excessive amounts of alcohol or live on a diet almost exclusively based on corn are most at risk of pellagra.

Others causes are associated with digestive problems where the body does not absorb niacin efficiently. The main symptoms of pellagra are commonly referred to as the three Ds — dementia, diarrhoea and dermatitis.

This disease can lead to death if not treated. Large doses of niacin produce a drug-like effect on the nervous system and on blood fats. While favourable changes in blood fats are seen, side effects include — flushing, itching, nausea and potential liver damage. Pantothenic acid is needed to metabolise carbohydrates, proteins, fats and alcohol as well as produce red blood cells and steroid hormones.