Vitamin B Complex

There are eleven vitamins in the vitamin B complex. The entire complex works together to help you achieve optimal health. The different vitamins are found in many of the same of foods.

They are water soluble, which means they are eliminated from your body the same day they are ingested. Yet it is important to have an adequate amount of B vitamins in your body, so you should consume them at least twice a day. If you are on estrogen replacement therapy or birth control pills, you should take extra B vitamins since hormonal therapy leads to a deficiency. Also, high dose supplementation of a single B vitamin can cause imbalances of other B vitamins. Therefore, you should take a multi-vitamin that contains these vitamins rather than take each vitamin individually.

Functions of B vitamins in your body:

• Help liver detoxify estrogen
• Help relieve leg cramps
• Metabolize glucose
• Stabilize brain chemistry
• Used in thyroid function

Symptoms of B-vitamin deficiency

• Change in appetite
• Impaired metabolism of medications
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Poor scores in personality testing
• Reduced immune system
• Sugar cravings

Causes of B-vitamin deficiency

• Birth control pills
• Estrogen replacement therapy

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

The first B vitamin discovered was thiamine (or thiamin). Thiamine is involved with many of the body’s reactions, including the burning of carbohydrates for energy. You can find thiamine in individuals supplements as well as supplements that contain all the B vitamins.

Functions of B1 in your body

• Helps the body adapt to stress and avoid adrenal burnout
• Needed for proper metabolism of thyroid hormones
• Needed for synthesis of nucleic acids and certain coenzymes
• Needed for the making of aldosterone, a steroid hormone
• Required for energy production (Krebs cycle)
• Required for proper nerve function
• Used for activation of enzymes in the adrenal glands
• Used in the synthesis of acetylcholine

Symptoms of B1 deficiency

Confusion, fatigue, forgetfulness, gastrointestinal disturbances, general weakness, headache, irritability, loss of appetite, mild depression, nervousness, poor memory, racing heart, sleep disturbance and vision problems.

Causes of B1 deficiency

Alcohol, antibiotics, blueberries, Brussels sprouts, coffee, diuretics, horseradish, oral contraceptives, pickled foods, red beet root, seafood such as fish, shrimp, clams, and mussels, sugar, sulfa drugs, sulfites (a food additive), theophylline (an asthma medication) and Tea.

B vitamins are water soluble and leave the body quickly, so they should be taken twice a day. Therefore, you should take 5 to 50 milligrams of B1 twice a day. High doses of B1 may deplete your body of vitamin B6 or magnesium.

Diseases/disorders that can be treated with B1:

Alcoholism, confusion, dementia, depression, fatigue, memory loss, neuropathy and pain.

USANA Vitamins Essentials™ is a Combo pack of Mega Antioxidant and Chelated Mineral, top-rated nutritionals. Mega Antioxidant is USANA’s daily vitamin and antioxidant supplement for adults. Chelated Mineral is USANA’s daily mineral supplement for adults.