Facts About Vitamins

Vitamin B Overview

There are many different forms of vitamin B, each of which has it’s own job or function within the body and all of which are vital to keep the body healthy and functioning normally. They are vital for brain function and preventing heart disease and are involved in absorbing nutrients from food as well as maintaining a healthy blood supply. In fact one or more B vitamins play a role in just about every organ and body process. Without them we would be susceptible to a range of illnesses and infections and would simply die. This article provides an outline of the main forms of vitamin B and their functions.

 

Thiamin (B1) is essential to every cell in the body, particularly nerve cells. It helps to keep them functioning properly as it plays a part in the process of converting food into energy inside the cells mitochondria. It is also important in memory retention and mental health.

 

Riboflavin (B2) is also crucial in converting the food we eat into energy. Without riboflavin our red blood cells will become sickly and not be as good at doing there job so the body cannot grow or develop properly.

Niacin (B3) has numerous uses and jobs within the body, over fifty in fact, ranging from detoxifying certain chemicals to hormone creation and once again releasing the energy from food.

 

Pantothenic Acid (B5) works alongside other B vitamins on a number of vital processes including the break down of the fats, proteins and carbohydrates we eat daily and converting them into energy. It is also involved in the creation of vitamin D as well as number of hormones and red blood cells.

 

Pyridoxine (B6) is the B vitamin that is mostly responsible for the rearranging and redistributing of the huge number of amino acids needed to create over five thousand different proteins and many enzymes needed by the body.

 

Biotin (B7) is another of the B vitamins involved in the break down of nutrients including fats, proteins and carbohydrates into usable energy as well as being involved in a number of other processes within the body.

 

Folic Acid (B9) is vital for cell growth and division. This B vitamin is especially important for developing foetuses, so it crucial the mother gets plenty during pregnancy. It is also used in making a variety of chemicals that control mood, appetite and sleep quality. It is also good for those worried about blocked arteries, stroke and heart attack as it helps to keep them clear, reducing the chances of them happening.

 

Cobalamin (B12) is another B vitamin that plays a part in breaking down fat, protein and carbohydrate and converting them into energy. However it also helps to form the protective coating that surrounds nerve endings, produce healthily red blood cells and to prevent heart disease.