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VITAMIN B

A healthy body leads to a healthy mind and one must always strive for it. The common hack of attaining the highest level of health is having a balanced nutrition. When you talk about a balanced nutrition., vitamins should not see a miss! Vitamins are essential for crucial body functions and various biochemical pathways.

Out of many such important vitamins, the common and well known vitamin is vitamin B. It is well known because of its functions and role that it plays in the body. The below write up is all that would like to know on vitamin B.

 

What is VITAMIN B?

Vitamin B come under the class of water soluble vitamins. This vitamin play a crucial role in cell metabolism and have several other functions.  Vitamin B is a group of compounds that fall under the same category. Together all of them are called as Vitamin B-complex. They are divided as B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 & B12. And each of them are defined uniquely.

  • B1: Also, known as thiamine and is a co-enzyme which helps in the metabolism of sugars and amino acids.
  • B2: Commonly known as riboflavin, and is required for flavoprotein enzyme reactions. It also helps in activating other vitamins.
  • B3: Expanded as Niacin, it is a coenzyme for NAD and NADP required for biochemical reactions.
  • B5: A precursor of coenzyme A, B5 is chemically known as pantothenic acid.
  • B6: Pyridoxine is the name and is required for various metabolic functions.
  • B7: Biotin is the molecule and required for fatty acid synthesis and is a coenzyme for carboxylase enzymes.
  • B9: Grouped as folates, this compound is required to repair, methylate and repair DNA. Also, plays an important role in cell division and growth in unborn infants.
  • B12: A group of cobalamins, which is required for metabolism of every cell in the body.

How does VITAMIN B work?

  • B1: The active form of coenzyme thiamine tri-phosphate which takes part in the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl coenzyme A in metabolism cycles.
  • B2: Riboflavin helps in release of energy in electron transport chain and citric acid cycle.
  • B3: The co enzymes play a major role in energy transfers during biochemical reaction during metabolism.
  • B5: This vitamin form is involved in the oxidation of fatty acids and carbohydrates.
  • B6: The active form of pyridoxal-5-phosphate plays a major role in synthesis of neurotransmitters.
  • B9: Folates act as co-enzymes and involves transfers of single carbon units in the metabolism of nucleic acids and amino acids.
  • B12: Cobalamins are involved in the cellular metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. It is also involved in the production of blood cells in bone marrow.

Advantages of VITAMIN B

All the vitamins in the B-complex perform unique function and is explained above. The main advantage of Vitamin B is that it will maintain a healthy body balance.

Disadvantages of lower levels of VITAMIN B

lack of vitamin B can cause several disease and health issues like:

  • Beriberi.
  • Can cause acne.
  • Neurological disorders.

 

Sources of VITAMIN B

Rich sources of vitamin B complex are fish, red meat, egg, cereals, orange juice etc. A balanced consumption of all the above will ensure sufficient levels of Vitamin B in the body.
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