The vitamin B complex consists of eight essential B vitamins, including B-1 (thiamine), B–2 (riboflavin), B-3 (niacin), B-5 (pantothenic acid), B-6 (pyridoxine), B-7 (biotin), B-9 (folic acid), and B-12 (cobalamin). B vitamins play a number of essential roles in bodily systems and are vital for good health. Many of them work together to ensure cells function properly, help the body convert food to energy, create new blood cells, maintain healthy skin and brain cells, and much more.
Most people can obtain enough B vitamins through eating a varied, healthy diet, whilst others may struggle to meet their daily needs and develop B vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin B complex supplements can help ensure you receive adequate amounts of these crucial vitamins and support overall health. Find out about some of the roles of B vitamins below.
Vitamin B-1
Vitamin B-1 (thiamin) is found in high quantities in the heart, liver, kidney and brain. The body needs this vitamin for breaking down carbohydrates in food, creating brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, producing fatty acids and synthesizing some hormones.
Vitamin B-2
Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) is essential for energy production, the breakdown of fats, drugs and steroid hormones, converting an amino acid called tryptophan into vitamin B-3, and converting vitamin B-6 into an important coenzyme.
Vitamin B-3
Vitamin B-3 (niacin) plays a crucial role in a range of bodily functions. The body converts B-3 into a coenzyme called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), which is a key player in over 400 enzyme reactions in the body. NAD helps the body convert carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into energy the body can readily use, regulate cell DNA expression, metabolic processes and communication.
Vitamin B-5
Vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid) is carried in red blood cells throughout the body to create new coenzymes, proteins and fats, for use in a variety of energy and metabolic processes.
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) is crucial for over 100 enzyme reactions in the body. It plays a role in amino acid metabolism, breakdown of carbohydrates and fats, brain development, and immune function.
Vitamin B-7
Vitamin B-7 (biotin) is required to convert food into energy, through the formation of fatty acids and glucose. Biotin is good for maintaining healthy hair, skin and liver, and plays an important role in the nervous system and embryonic growth. It is also believed biotin can help regulate blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Vitamin B-9
Folate is the natural form of vitamin B-9 and is essential for a number of bodily functions, including DNA synthesis and repair, metabolism of vitamins and amino acids, and the development of red blood cells. It is particularly important during pregnancy to support the growth of a healthy fetus.
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 is an essential vitamin which can be quite hard to obtain through diet alone, especially for vegetarians. The body uses it for creating new blood cells, DNA synthesis, brain and neurological function, and fat and protein metabolism.
Getting plenty of these important B vitamins is key to good health and proper function of the body. It can be difficult to ensure you are meeting your daily needs, so taking a daily vitamin B complex supplement can help prevent B vitamin deficiencies, which can lead to a number of health conditions. New Leaf’s Vitamin B Complex Tablets include a unique blend of all 8 B vitamins, as well as added vitamin C, and provides 100% of your daily requirements.