What is the composition of Vitamin B Complex?
B vitamin complex is composed of eight biochemical compounds:
B1 aka thiamine
B2 aka riboflavin
B3 aka niacin
B5 aka pantothenic acid
B6 aka pyridoxine
B7 aka biotin
B9 aka folic acid
B12 aka cobalamin
These are essential vitamins to our body and contribute individually to its optimized overall functioning. Each vitamin has its own role to play. One can go for natural dietary supplements of vitamin B complex in case of any deficiency or increased body demand for these essential compounds.
How do these vitamins benefit our body?
Vitamin B complex helps in maintaining overall good health and mental as well as physical well-being. Majorly, these biochemical compounds help in elevating your energy levels, cellular metabolic activities, and brain functioning. These vitamins help in preventing various infections and promoting:
- The health of all body cells
- Synthesis and growth of red blood cells
- Body energy levels
- Strong eyesight
- Healthy brain functioning
- Optimum digestion
- Healthy appetite
- Optimum nerve functioning
- Synthesis of hormones and good cholesterol
- Heart and vascular health
- Toning of muscles
For women
Vitamin B complex is very necessary during pregnancy and breastfeeding. These biochemical compounds help in optimizing fetal brain growth and development. Moreover, these compounds help in reducing the risk of many types of birth defects in the developing fetus. These vitamins may also help in boosting energy levels and suppressing nausea in expecting mothers. Also, these compounds lower the risk of developing a dangerous pregnancy complication called preeclampsia.
For men
These biochemicals belonging to the B complex tend to increase levels of testosterone in males, which decrease with increasing age naturally. Furthermore, these also help in building muscle mass and increasing strength in men.
Role of each B vitamin
Thiamin/vitamin B1
Various body organs like the heart, brain, liver, and kidney contain high levels of thiamin for the following functions:
- Breaking down carbs
- Synthesizing neurotransmitters or brain chemicals
- Essential fatty acid synthesis
- Producing certain hormones
Riboflavin/vitamin B2
Riboflavin plays a vital role in:
- Producing energy
- Breaking down fats, certain drugs, or steroid hormones
- Conversion of tryptophan into niacin/vitamin B3
- Conversion of vitamin B6 into an essential coenzyme
Niacin/vitamin B3
Our body transforms niacin into a coenzyme, i.e. nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) which is very necessary for more than 400 important enzyme reactions occurring in our body. These reactions result in:
- Transforming carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into energy
- Various metabolic processes in our body’s cells
- Communication among body cells
- DNA expression in the cells
Pantothenic acid/vitamin B5
Pantothenic acid plays a vital role in the synthesis of various important coenzymes, proteins, and fats.
Pyridoxine/vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 plays a vital role in 100+ enzymatic reactions resulting in:
- Metabolism of amino acids
- Carbohydrates and fats breakdown
- Optimum brain development
- Enhanced immune activity
Biotin/vitamin B7
Our body needs biotin for:
- Metabolizing fats, proteins, and carbohydrates
- Optimizing communication among body cells
- DNA regulation
Folate/vitamin B9
Folate helps in:
- DNA replication
- Vitamin metabolism
- Amino acid metabolism
- Optimum cell divisions
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 with cobalt (an essential mineral) is called a “cobalamin.” The body uses this vitamin B12 for:
- Synthesis of new red blood cells
- Synthesis of DNA
- Optimized brain and neurological functioning
- Metabolism of fats and proteins