Energy, we all wish we had more of it, especially on busy days. Simply breathing requires energy! We get energy from the foods we eat, BUT did you know that our bodies would not unlock that energy or be able to maintain a healthy body - inside and out - without the help of an important band of vitamins? Introducing The B vitamins!
In our cells we have an energy-producing “factory” with a biological “assembly line” that supplies the body with most of the energy needed to power our movements AND our internal body systems; this is also referred to as our metabolism.1
B vitamins not only help keep this assembly line running smoothly, but they also activate other processes in our body, making them very important coenzymes in various biological reactions.1,2
B vitamins are an important key to our health, as they help keep the lights on and the gears turning in our body's various “factories” to tackle the day! Let's meet these biological heroes:
There are eight B vitamins:1,2
Riboflavin was first isolated as a yellow pigment found in milk in 1870.3 Riboflavin’s role in our energy “assembly line” is primarily by working in our body’s redox reactions. These chemical reactions create the delicate electrical balance our cells prefer to “run on” for optimal function. It also performs vital functions in the breakdown of fats, amino acids, other vitamins, and ingested drugs. Hence, riboflavin plays a key role in maintaining cell function, growth, and development.1,2,3,4
Riboflavin, like all the other B vitamins, is water-soluble, meaning it dissolves in water when entering the body which means the body has trouble storing excess amounts of it.3 Most mammals are not able to create B vitamins on their own, making it very important to consume all the B vitamins regularly in the diet!1,2
B vitamins are mainly found in meat and meat by-products like dairy, BUT there are also vegetarian and vegan-friendly plant-based food sources!
For vegetarian and vegan diets:3,4
Niacin is converted in the body to a powerful coenzyme, over 400 enzymes require it to activate biological reactions, more than any other vitamin-derived coenzyme!5,6 Niacin allows the body to effectively break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.5,6 It also helps our cells intercommunicate.1
For vegetarian and vegan diets:5,6
B5’s main function is to create two coenzymes which are essential for fatty acid synthesis and breakdown. Fatty acids have many functions in the body, one is being the "building blocks" of our cell walls, when B5 breaks down fatty acids they are able to be used to create cell walls and fuel the body hence B5 is important for energy production (by breaking down fats in the body), optimal cell function, and the formation of hormones.2,7
High quantities:7
For vegetarian and vegan diets:7
All B vitamins greatly contribute to energy production and normal regulation of the inner body that fuels our health but there are some that have additional roles in maintaining the health of our nervous system. These are known as the “neurotropic” B vitamins: B1, B6, and B12.3
Thiamin or B1, like the previous B vitamins mentioned, also helps break down nutrients (mainly carbohydrates and amino acids) for energy, contributing to the growth, development, and function of our cells.1,2,8,9 However, B1 is special because the body transports thiamine to areas like the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, muscles, and nerves.1,2,9 So the energy that thiamin helps produce is given to some of the most important “factories” in our bodies.1 Deficiencies in thiamine can affect the metabolic, neurologic, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems.8
Note: Thiamin is heat sensitive meaning heating your food can limit the amount present.
High quantities:9
For vegetarian and vegan diets:9
(also high quantity)
Pyridoxine, or B6 as it is most commonly referred to, is very versatile and performs a wide range of functions in the body, with more than 100 enzymatic reactions! It’s main functions are brain development during pregnancy and infancy, supporting the immune system, the breaking down of proteins, and the construction of neurotransmitters.1,2,10 It is also critical for red blood cell production.2,11
For vegetarian and vegan diets:10,11
B12 contains a mineral called cobalt hence its name cobalamin. B12 supports our central nervous system since it is required for the development of healthy nerve cells. It is also required for healthy red blood cell formation as well as DNA synthesis. B12 is the only B vitamin that is not produced by plants.1,2,12
B12 is concentrated in animal tissue and therefore it is only found in animal products12. Our stomach acid helps release B12 from animal tissues, once B12 is free, an intrinsic factor found in the gut will allow its absorption for use in the body.2,12 Human gut bacteria can also create B12 but much further along in the digestive path where intrinsic factor is not found to help absorption therefore a diverse diet that includes B12 is necessary.2,12 Deficiency can manifest in anemia and neurological symptoms.1,2,11,12 It is important to note that methylcobalamin is the natural form of B12 and requires less conversion in the body compared to cyanocobalamin which is the synthetic form of B12.12
High quantities:12
For Vegetarian and vegan diets:12
Folate, like B12 and B6, is necessary for red blood cell formation and cell division. Folate is also important for breaking down proteins that eventually help create DNA, RNA, and neurotransmitters.13 B12 is a much closer biological “coworker” to folate than the other B vitamins, as they both have complementary roles in the body. Folate requires B12’s help to become activated to complete its biological tasks. If B12 is low in the body then folate cannot optimally perform its duties.12,13 Deficiency can manifest in anemia. Folate intake is emphasized in pregnancy due to folic acid’s connection to neural tube defects in infants. It’s important to note that in supplements methylfolate is the natural form of folate, it requires less conversion and processing in the body compared to folic acid, which does need to be converted in the body to the active form of folate.13
High quantities:13
For vegetarian and vegan diets:13
Also high quantities:
You might be familiar with biotin since it has made a name for itself in the beauty industry as a hair, nail, and skin fortifier. Biotin plays a vital role in our energy “assembly line” by breaking down protein, fats, and carbohydrates in our foods and assisting the body with immune responses like inflammation.1,14,15 Biotin is also involved in the way our DNA is presented in the body with about 2000 genes being biotin-dependant!15
High quantities:15
For vegetarian and vegan diets:15
Now that we have been formally introduced to all of the B vitamins and their respective food sources, it’s important to not get too overwhelmed in the details of just how you are going to get all of these vitamins into your diet daily! In a perfect world we’d be able to prepare and enjoy perfectly balanced and nutritious meals and snacks each and everyday, but as we all know, that can be next to impossible most of the time, this is where NatureCity’s TrueB Plant-Based Vitamin B Complex comes into play. TrueB contains all of the B vitamins discussed and all are naturally sourced from USDA organic plants grown in soil, not a lab. TrueB helps promote cellular energy production and red blood cell creation while supporting several aspects of cardiovascular, cognitive and immune system health. Click here to learn more about adding TrueB to your nutritional regimen.
Sources:
|