Inositol, sometimes referred to as Vitamin B8, is a vitamin-like substance that supports our health by acting as a signalling and messenger molecule involved in: insulin regulation the regulation of calcium ions within cells the breakdown of fats and production of cholesterol Because inositol can be synthesized by our bodies from glucose, it is not…
Author: Janet McKenzie, ND
Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)
Folic acid (Vitamin B9, folate) is a water-soluble vitamin and part of the B Complex of vitamins. Healthy adults require about 320 mcg of folic acid daily; pregnant women and teenagers need 330 mcg. Children require much smaller doses, ranging from 120 – 250 mcg per day, according to age. In addition to pregnant women,…
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a key role in the functioning of the brain and nervous system, the formation of blood, cellular metabolism, DNA synthesis and regulation, fatty acid synthesis and energy production. The B12 required for human health has to come from bacteria since fungi, plants, and animals…
Should I take vitamin B12 if my serum B12 level is high?
Common contributors to Vitamin B12 deficiency include: vegetarian/vegan diet stomach acid medications antibiotics oral contraceptives aspirin (ASA) blood sugar medications such as metformin Normal serum vitamin B12 levels range between 200-900 pg/mL. Serum B12 levels may not accurately reflect tissue B12 levels. What this means is that you could have a tissue level deficiency that…
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid or ascorbate, is a water-soluble anti-oxidant. One of its main functions in our bodies is to protect our cells from oxygen-based damage. Healthy adults need about 75 to 90 mg per day; pregnant and lactating women need more; children need less. Pediatric doses range from 15 mg to…
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. Most of your intake of Vitamin D, though, comes from skin exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D plays important roles in the regulation of certain minerals (calcium, phosphorus), in the maintenance of bone, in the regulation of blood sugar, blood pressure, inflammation and immune system responses. The amount of sun…
Vitamin E
What is commonly referred to as Vitamin E is actually a group of related, fat-soluble compounds found in many foods and as a man-made supplement. Vitamin E is one of the anti-oxidant vitamins (along with C and B3). It protects cells against oxidative damage. Because sufficient amounts of Vitamin E are easily obtained from foods,…
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a major role in the blood-clotting process. In fact, the “K” comes from the German “Koagulationsvitamin”, as it was called when the initial discovery was announced in a German scientific journal. In addition to its function in blood-clotting, Vitamin K is also involved in calcium-bonding processes in bone…
Zinc
Zinc is a metallic element that is needed in very small amounts for human health. Zinc regulates the activities of genes, supports blood sugar balance and metabolism, is important for the senses of taste and smell and has a key role in immune function. Healthy adults need around 10 mg of zinc per day; children…
Sulfur
Sulfur is a non-metallic mineral that exists as an odorless, yellow crystalline solid in its natural form. It is an essential component of the amino acids methionine, cystine, cysteine and taurine. It is also part of the molecular structure of two vitamins: thiamine and biotin, and participates in many reactions in our bodies as sulfides…