Vitamin B Complex – Organic Whole Food Plant Based Complete Vitamin B Complex, 60 Vegan Capsules

• Cofactor Vitamins: Water-soluble vitamins are essential for production of coenzymes that are necessary for the activity of various enzymes of the body.
• Contains antioxidant vitamins
• Helps reduce fatigue and improve wellness
• Help in increasing energy production
• Promotes heart health
• May help improve blood flow
• May help improve cognitive functions
• Helps maintain healthy skin & nails
• Has relaxant and anti-inflammatory properties
• Helps prevent anemia
• Supports wound healing

IMPORTANCE OF EACH B-VITAMIN

Water-soluble vitamins are also called the co-factor vitamins because they are essential for the production of coenzymes that are necessary for the activity of various enzymes of the body. They are essential for normal growth and development, as they are involved in many metabolic processes. Humans cannot synthesize many of these vitamins; therefore, we have to rely heavily on their exogenous intake

Thiamine (B1):

Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin necessary for the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Thiamine is involved as a cofactor in numerous enzymes, and is essential in every cell for ATP production via the Krebs cycle. Thiamine deficiency, manifests as beriberi or Wernicke-Korsakoff psychosis. Thiamine plays a wide variety of major roles in the body like:

• Improving cardiovascular health.[2], [3]
• Enhancing mood and cognitive functions.[4],[3]
• Playing a neuro-modulatory role in the acetylcholine neurotransmitter system, contributes to the structure and function of cellular membranes, including neurons and neuroglia.[4]

Riboflavin (B2):

Riboflavin is unique among the water-soluble vitamins. Biochemical signs of depletion arise within only a few days of dietary deprivation. Its most important biologically active forms, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN), participate in a range of redox reactions, some of which are absolutely key to the function of aerobic cells.[5]

• It is involved in energy production.[4]
• It performs antioxidant functions.[4]
• Promotes normal functions of brain.[5]
• Riboflavin plays a role in erythropoiesis, improves iron absorption, and aids the mobilization of ferritin from tissues.[5]
• Riboflavin does appear to play an essential role in prevention of cataract formation.[5]
• Activation of pyridoxine to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate is dependent on FMN, and the synthesis of vitamin B12 is dependent on FAD.[5]

Niacin (B3):

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a water-soluble amide of nicotinic acid. Niacinamide is one of two principal forms of the B-complex vitamin B3.

• It has antioxidant effects.[4],[6]
• A vast array of processes and enzymes involved in every aspect of peripheral and brain cell function are dependent on niacin derived nucleotides (NAD) and (NADP).[4]
• It’s involved in energy production.[4]
• Possesses anti-inflammatory properties.[6]
• May be effective in reducing joint pain.[6]
• Niacinamide has been used to treat several types of dermatological pathologies.[5]

Pantothenic Acid (B5):

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin. Only the Dextrorotatory (D) isomer of pantothenic acid – D-pantothenic acid – possesses biologic activity. Humans lack the enzyme for this synthetic step, so are unable to synthesize pantothenic acid.[7]

• It has anti-ageing effects.[5]
• Several reports exist on the use of pantothenic acid for persons with lupus erythematosus (skin inflammation/ rash).[5]
• Also aids in arthritic conditions by significantly reducing morning stiffness, degree of disability, and severity of pain for persons taking pantothenic acid.[5]
• Pantothenic acid is needed for adrenal function and might be involved in the adrenal response to stress.[5]
• May also help in wound healing.[5]

Pyridoxine (B6):

Pyridoxine is water soluble and stable in heat and acid mediums. Pyridoxine and its vitamers are absorbed in the upper small intestine by simple diffusion and transported to the liver for biotransformation into the active coenzyme P5P, which is then exported from the liver bound to albumin.[8]

• It is likely to be of benefit in treating premenstrual symptoms, including premenstrual depression.[8]
• Low folate and B6 levels are associated with high homocysteine levels increasing the risk of cardiovascular deseases.[8]

Biotin (B7):

Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that is an essential cofactor for four carboxylase enzymes, each of which catalyzes an essential step in intermediary metabolism. Because humans and other mammals cannot synthesize biotin, it must be derived from dietary sources. Conditions that may benefit from biotin supplementation include dyslipidemia, brittle nails, diabetes, dermatitis, and candidiasis.[9]

• Reduces the incidences of brittle nails called Onychoschizia.[9]
• Biotin deficiency can cause alopecia and scaly, erythematous dermatitis distributed around body orifices.[9]
• Poor biotin status adversely affects plasma lipid levels. Biotin resulted in significant decreases in triglycerides and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects compared to placebo.[9]
• Acquired biotin deficiency and the disorders of biotin metabolism lead to a deficiency of the four biotin-dependent carboxylase enzymes (ie., multiple carboxylase deficiency).

Folate (B9):

A member of the B-complex family of vitamins, and works synergistically with vitamin B12, because humans cannot synthesize this compound, making it a dietary requirement. Folate deficiency can cause peripheral neuropathy, myelopathy, restless legs syndrome, insomnia, dementia, forgetfulness, irritability, endogenous depression, organic psychosis, and schizophrenia-like syndromes[ix].

• It’s instrumental in reducing homocysteine levels, reducing the risk of CVD.[10]
• Has shown promise as part of a nutritional protocol to treat vitiligo, and may reduce inflammation of the gingiva.[10]
• Has a long history of use in conjunction with vitamin B12 for the treatment of macrocytic anemia.[10]
• May also aid peripheral blood flow by increasing nitric oxide (NO) in vascular endothelial cells.[10]
• Lower serum and RBC folate concentrations have an association with depression, and deficiency might predict a poorer response to some antidepressant medications.[10]

Vitamin B12:

Cyanocobalamin is one of the two coenzyme forms of vitamin B12 (the other being adenosylcobalamin). Vitamin B12 deficiency itself often causes disorientation and confusion and thus mimics some of the prominent symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. B12 helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells and is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all cells.[11].

• Improves cognitive functions.[11]
• Reduces the risk of CVD by reducing total homocysteine levels.[11]
• Might improve the general well-being and happiness of patients complaining of tiredness or fatigue11.

BIOENHANCER

Bioenhancers constitute an innovative concept the discovery of which was based on a traditional system of Indian medicine. A bioenhancer is an agent capable of enhancing bioavailability and bioefficacy of a particular ingredient with which it is combined.

• The bioenhancers improve nutritional status by increasing bioavailability/ bioefficacy of various nutraceuticals including metals and vitamins.[12]
• The bioenhancing effects of piperine have been demonstrated in several other studies showing that piperine can improve the absorption of many nutrients. These include: vitamin C, selenium, beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin B6, coenzyme Q10.[13]
• They increase bioavailability of nutraceuticals by acting on gastrointestinal tract to enhance absorption.[12]

VITAMIN B COFACTORS

These cofactor minerals help in the absorption of vitamins either by converting these vitamins into their active forms or by activation of various transporters or carriers or by producing coenzymes that are responsible for the uptake of these vitamins. Deficiency of minerals will eventually result in deficiency of vitamins. Thus, Unived’s Organic Whole Food Complete B-Complex is packed with carefully selected minerals which are scientifically proven to help in utilisation of certain vitamins.

Magnesium:

It is an important cofactor for the activation of a wide range of transporters and enzymes.

• The absorption of thiamine occurs in the duodenum by an active process and is converted to its active form thiamine pyrophosphate. This conversion process of thiamine to its active form requires magnesium as a cofactor, and hence hypomagnesaemia can mimic thiamine deficiency.[14].
• Pantothenic acid is used in CoA and acyl carrier proteins (ACP), which carry and transfer acetyl and acyl groups, respectively. The biosynthetic pathway begins with a phosphorylation reaction catalyzed by a magnesium-dependent enzyme – pantothenate kinase.[15]

Sodium:

Sodium dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT) is an electrogenic, highly sodium dependent carrier mediated system responsible for absorption of vitamins. It is an important transmembrane protein responsible for translocation of vitamins.[16]

• The Na+/multivitamin transporter (SMVT) is a member of the Solute Sodium Symporter (SSS) family that catalyzes the Na+-dependent uptake of the water-soluble vitamins pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and biotin (vitamin H), α-lipoic acid and are therefore, essential for normal human health and development.[17]
• Pantothenic acid absorption occurs in the small intestine, and is sodium-dependent15.

Zinc:

• Zinc supplementation also has an effect on the metabolism of tryptophan conversion to niacin.