Vitamin B1

Thiamine, or Vitamin B1,  is a water-soluble vitamin found in the Vitamin B Complex. Vitamin B1 is essential for the normal growth, development and function of the nervous system.  Because it is a water-soluble vitamin, thiamine is not stored in our bodies in significant amounts and must be consumed regularly to avoid deficiency. Healthy men…

Vitamin B2

Riboflavin, also known as Vitamin B2, is frequently used in combination with other B vitamins as part of the Vitamin B Complex.  It is the vitamin that causes your urine to turn a brilliant yellow colour. Riboflavin’s main role in health is to act as an anti-oxidant enzyme in numerous metabolic reactions.  It is especially…

Vitamin B3

Niacin (Vitamin B3), or its other form – niacinamide,  is one of the water-soluble vitamins, usually included in the Vitamin B Complex. Its main roles in our bodies are to aid in the metabolism of fats and to stabilize blood sugar.  Niacin is used therapeutically to reduce high cholesterol levels. Healthy men and women need…

Vitamin B5

Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) is another of the water-soluble B Vitamins, and is widely found in foods from plants and animals including meat, vegetables, cereal grains, legumes, eggs, and milk. In our bodies, pantothenic acid is a major participant in the creation of a molecule known as Co-enzyme A.  Co-enzyme A is critical to many…

Vitamin B6

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…

Biotin (Vitamin B7)

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 (Vitamin B8)

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)

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…