Your Body’s B-Vitamin Extended Family

Your body’s family of B vitamins was originally thought of a single vitamin because the nutritional roles that each plays are very similar. B vitamins are water-soluble (with the exception of B12 stemming from soil-based bacteria), and the body lacks the ability to store them. Any surplus is excreted in the urine.

The B-complex vitamins are a group of eight “officially recognized” vitamins, four other unofficially recognized nutrients, and many still-unknown factors. The eight known vitamin B complex parts are thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folic acid (B9), and cobalamin (B12). All of these provide the body with essential nutrients that are critical to our health.

Each of the B numbers is based on the order in which the specific vitamin part was discovered. This complex only works completely as a real, whole B vitamin family when accompanied by naturally occurring associated factors. Most people cannot obtain enough B vitamins from their daily food sources because today’s highly processed foods are virtually devoid of them. Many doctors and nutritionists therefore suggest taking the B-complex vitamins as a supplement group for overall good health and the prevention of nutrient deficiencies.

B-complex vitamins are necessary for:

1. Cell reproduction. Whenever your body needs new cells for the normal functions of metabolism, and for replacements from injury and sickness, vitamin B helps your body reproduce the needed cells and tissue.

2. Nervous system health. Deficiency may cause memory loss and lower reaction time.

3. Heart health. A study conducted among more than 80,000 female nurses was the first to show a direct link between these B vitamins, folate (folic acid) and B6, and protection against coronary disease. It suggested that eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, or getting these B vitamins from supplements, is as important as quitting smoking, lowering cholesterol, and controlling blood pressure in preventing premature death from the nation’s leading killer.

B vitamins are also known to be essential for breaking down carbohydrates into glucose (this provides energy for the body), for breaking down fats and proteins (which aids the normal functioning of the nervous system), and for muscle tone in the stomach and intestinal tract. They are also important in maintaining the health of skin, hair, eye, mouth, liver, and more.