There are 3 forms of Vitamin B6: pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine.  Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that is part of the B Vitamin Complex.  It can be found in certain foods such as cereals, beans, vegetables, liver, meat, and eggs, and can also be found as a man-made supplement. One of the roles B6 has…

Vitamin B7, or biotin, is one of the lesser known water-soluble B Vitamins.  B Complex products often include it, but not always. Biotin works as a cofactor to support the enzymatic activity involved in the production of fatty acids, amino acids and glucose. Healthy adults need about 30 mcg of biotin each day.  Children vary…

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…

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, 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…

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 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…

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 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…