Vitamin B Deficiency Diseases And Conditions
Vitamin B deficiency can increase the risk of various diseases and conditions which can affect your heart health, brain health, mental well-being, and more. For example, both B9 and B12 deficiency causes anemia in some cases â a condition in which your body lacks healthy red blood cells . Anemia can also lead to fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, and even numbness and tingling in some cases.
Other conditions linked with vitamin B deficiency include:
- Paresthesias â A âpins-and-needlesâ feeling often experienced around the arms, hands, legs, or feet
- Peripheral neuropathy â A nervous system condition that is often felt as a stabbing or burning pain
- Psychosis â A mental condition in which oneâs thoughts and perceptions are significantly altered, resulting in delusions, hallucinations, nonsense speech, or other symptoms
- Heart attack and stroke â A deficiency in vitamin B12 may heighten the risk of getting a heart attack or stroke
When Is The Right Time To Take Vitamin B Complex
Doctors usually recommend 100 mg of vitamin B complex per day.
But it can also be consumed depending on the condition of the person. Especially when you are pregnant, have certain chronic health problems and for vegetarians.
Reporting from Medicalnewstoday, the best time to take vitamin B complex is after waking up. Although vitamin B supplements are safe to take, it is most beneficial to get them from food sources.
Because, if consumed in the afternoon or evening it will potentially affect your sleep.
Thats the right way to take vitamin B complex. Better consult first before drinking it, yes!
Do B Vitamins Have An Impact On Brain Function
Given that B vitamins are essential for every aspect of brain function, and that large proportions of the population of developed societies have less than optimal levels of vitamins, it would be expected that a relationship would be evident between vitamin consumption and mental function both in terms of epidemiological studies and controlled intervention trials. The driver for much of the research conducted to date in both of these domains has been the homocysteine hypothesis described above. Concentrating on this one unproven hypothesis has resulted in both observational and controlled trial research being focussed disproportionately on just three of the vitaminsfolate and vitamins B6 and B12. However, the observational and the controlled trial research concentrating on these three vitamins could be seen as generating somewhat different conclusions.
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Treatment Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
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Vitamin B12 supplements
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For people with nerve damage, vitamin B12 given by injection
Older people with vitamin B12 deficiency benefit from taking vitamin B12 supplements because the deficiency usually results from difficulty absorbing the vitamin from meat. They can absorb the vitamin more easily from supplements than from meat.
Treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia consists of high doses of vitamin B12 supplements. If people have the deficiency but no symptoms, the vitamin may be taken by mouth. Blood tests are done periodically to make sure the vitamin B12 level returns to and remains normal.
People who have very low levels of vitamin B12 or symptoms due to nerve damage are usually given vitamin B12 by injection into a muscle. Injections, which may be self-administered, are given daily or weekly for several weeks until the vitamin B12 level returns to normal. Then injections are given once a month indefinitely, unless the disorder causing the deficiency can be corrected.
Anemia usually resolves in about 6 weeks. But if severe symptoms due to nerve damage last for months or years, they may become permanent. In most older people with vitamin B12 deficiency and dementia, mental function does not improve after treatment.
Vitamin B Complex Trials For Rheumatoid Arthritis
In this trial, 43 participants with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly allocated to receive 5 mg vitamin B9 with or without 100 mg vitamin B6 once a day for 12 weeks.
- There was no reported difference in change in the disease activity score or number of painful or swollen joints.
- Those who received the Vitamin B9 and B6 combination demonstrated significantly greater reductions in some markers of inflammation.
- No side-effects were recorded.
A trial of low quality. Results of this trial were given a lower weighting when we came to our conclusion about the compound.
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What Other Vitamins And Minerals Should I Take With B Vitamins
Some supplements block the absorption of other nutrients, while others do the opposite and actually improve a specific nutrient’s bioavailability. The Smart Supplement contains specific compounds chosen for maximum absorption, and the capsule itself also ensures that none of the B vitamins are wasted.
And dont forget the importance of timing timing. Because B vitamins can be energising, take your B-complex vitamins in the morning to give yourself a physical and mental boost all day long.
What Is Each B Vitamin Good For
Vitamin B-1 is known as Thiamin. It plays a crucial role in breaking down carbs and protein. Good sources include peanuts, black beans, and grain products. Good sources: Whole or fortified grain products, pork, peanuts, and black beans.
Vitamin B-3 is also called Niacin. Found in peanuts, fish, brown rice, and whole grains.
Vitamin B-6 is involved in a vast amount of metabolic pathways its essential for the optimal breakdown of food from big nutrients into small units the body can use. Good sources include bananas, tuna, chickpeas, and pistachios.
Vitamin B-9 is called Folate, and its essential to the production of red blood cells. Its one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA. Good sources include avocados, leafy greens, broccoli, green peas and more.
Vitamin B-12 is only found in animal products. Vitamin B-12 is crucial to the normal functioning of the nervous system. It helps to create and regulate RNA, and its also involved in the formation of red blood cells.
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Vitamin B1 Is Important For Preventing Beriberi
The recommended daily intake of vitamin B1, also called thiamine, is 1.1 milligram for women over age 18, up to 1.4 mg for those who are pregnant, and 1.5 mg for those who are breast-feeding. For men age 14 and older, 1.2 mg per day is recommended, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Vitamin B1 plays a major role in metabolizing food into energy. B1 is found in whole-grain cereals, yeast, beans, nuts, and meats. Too little vitamin B1 causes beriberi, a disease affecting the heart, digestive system, and the nervous system. Beriberi is found in patients who are malnourished, and in those who are heavy drinkers of alcohol. Symptoms of beriberi include difficulty walking, loss of sensation in the hands and feet, and paralysis of the lower legs and it may even lead to congestive heart failure. People who consume large amounts of alcohol should take a vitamin B complex supplement to be sure they get enough B1. Also, taking any one of the B vitamins for a long period of time can result in an imbalance of other important B vitamins. For this reason, you may want to take a B-complex vitamin, which includes all the B vitamins.
Folate And Folic Acid
Folate is a B vitamin found in many foods. The manmade form of folate is called folic acid.
Folate is also known as folacin and vitamin B9.
Folate helps:
- the body form healthy red blood cells
- reduce the risk of birth defects called neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, in unborn babies
A lack of folate could lead to folate deficiency anaemia.
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Vitamin B Complex Uses:
- Cell health
- Growth of red blood cells
- Energy levels
- High blood sugar levels
Best Time To Take Multivitamins
You should take your multivitamins in the morning with a meal so you can ease absorption. However, if that causes stomach pain, try taking them in the afternoon before you go to bed. Remember, the most important thing is to make them a part of your daily routine.
People that would benefit the most from taking multivitamins are:
- Adults, because vitamin B12, calcium and vitamin D absorption decreases with age.
- Vegans and vegetarians, because they may not get sufficient levels of vitamin B12, iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin D and omega-3 from their diet alone.
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Vitamin B3 Breaks Down Food Into Energy
We need vitamin B3, also called nicotinic acid or niacin, in our diets every day to break down food we eat into energy we can use. Females who are 14 and older need 14 mg a day males in this age group need 16 mg daily. Legumes, nuts, enriched breads, dairy, fish, and lean meats are all good sources of this type of vitamin B.
Not getting enough niacin in your diet causes the disorder known as pellagra. Symptoms of pellagra include both physical and mental difficulties, diarrhea, inflamed mucus membranes, and dementia. Pellagra can also result when the body is not able to absorb enough niacin because of alcoholism. Health benefits of niacin include its use as a treatment to help control high blood levels of cholesterol. Doses of niacin high enough to lower cholesterol are associated with several side effects and should only be taken with a physicians supervision.
Prenatal Vitamins And Morning Sickness
Extra folic acid and iron are very important for a healthy baby. They can be found in most prenatal vitamins. But some prenatal vitamins can make nausea worse, mostly because of the iron. If this happens to you, pair your prenatal vitamins with a light snack before you go to bed. Talk to your doctor about the best prenatal formula for you.
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How Much Folate Do I Need
Adults need 200 micrograms of folate a day. A microgram is 1,000 times smaller than a milligram . The word microgram is sometimes written with the Greek symbol μ followed by the letter g .
There are no long-term stores in the body, so you need to eat folate-containing foods frequently.
Most people should be able to get the amount of folate they need by eating a varied and balanced diet.
The Bottom Line B Is Good For Energy
The truth is, the eight B vitamins contribute in a unique way to metabolism. The more efficient the metabolism, the more efficient the energy. Vitamins like B5 and B6 work together. B12 is energy-boosting along with B6. Pharmacists and doctors often suggest a high-quality B-complex supplement. A B-complex supplement provides the daily recommended B vitamins in a single dosage.
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People Taking Certain Medications
Commonly prescribed medications can lead to a deficiency in B vitamins.
For example, proton pump inhibitors, which are medications that lower stomach acid, can decrease the absorption of B12, while metformin, a popular diabetes drug, can decrease levels of both B12 and folate (
Summary
Pregnancy, medical conditions, surgeries, genetic mutations, medications, dietary restriction and age can all affect how your body absorbs and uses B vitamins.
While certain conditions make it necessary for some people to supplement with B-complex vitamins, research has shown that taking a B-complex supplement may be helpful even for people who dont have an increased need for these nutrients.
What Is B12 Exactly
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble micronutrient that’s found naturally in many animal foods that you eat, nutritionist Keri Gans, author of The Small Change Diet, tells Allure. There are actually several forms of B12, but all of them contain the mineral cobalt, per the National Institutes of Health .
As New York City-based nutritionist Gina Keatley tells Allure, the vitamin is involved in metabolism with every cell of your body and has a big impact on DNA synthesis. According to nutritionist Beth Warren, founder of Beth Warren Nutrition and author of Living a Real Life with Real Food, B12 also helps create red blood cells. Keatley adds that since we don’t produce B12 on our own, we have to get it from our diets it’s produced by bacteria in the gut and when we consume certain animal foods, we get the B12 produced by the gut bacteria of those animals.
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What Are The Benefits Of Vitamin B Complex
Maybe there are still many people wondering about the benefits of taking vitamin B complex.
Vitamin B complex itself plays an important role in maintaining a healthy body.
Even more than that, B-complex vitamins have a direct impact on increasing energy and helping the nervous system function.
Taking it regularly, vitamin B complex also supports:
- Cell health
Excessive Folic Acid Intake
Although folic acid is generally considered non-toxic, excessive intakes above 1,000 mcg per day over a period of time can lead to malaise, irritability and intestinal dysfunction. The main risk with excessive folate intake is that it can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency, so its best to consume these two vitamins within the recommended amounts.
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Best Time To Take Prenatal Vitamins
Since prenatal vitamins are a multivitamin, taking them before lunch is an optimal time to absorb all that they contain.
A good prenatal vitamin will include calcium, iron, and folic acid, according to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology . Iron absorbs best on an empty stomach and cant absorb properly if youve recently eaten dairy. Iron is absorbed better if you take it with a beverage that has vitamin C, such as orange juice.
Some women find that adding prenatal vitamins to their diet causes some symptoms like nausea and constipation. Some prenatal vitamin brands recommend taking their vitamins on an empty stomach or with a glass of water.
If it seems like taking the vitamins first thing in the morning or without food is making you sick, try taking them right before you go to bed. The benefits of prenatal vitamins are cumulative, so the most important thing is that you take them every day.
Some vitamins cant be stored in the body and must be taken daily in food or supplements. Taking folic acid during pregnancy is known to protect against spina bifida and other neural tube defects. If possible, its best to take prenatal vitamins with folic acid for a year before becoming pregnant.
Essential Vitamins And Minerals For Healthy Skin
To know the essential vitamins and minerals for the skin, you need to understand first what is skin? Skin is the largest organ that is composed of 3 layers. The layer which is closer to your body is called your Epidermis. Its made of dead cells. Further out is the Dermis which makes up 90% of the skins thickness. It consists of nutrient-rich fibres, collagen, blood vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles, nerves and oil glands. And lastly, the subcutaneous layer, which lies closest to the bone, acts as shock absorption to keep you from getting bruised or cut.
It is important to consume a healthy and balanced diet with adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals to keep the skin healthy and glowing. There is a list of vitamins and minerals that are essential for the human body and they include Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin P, Omega 3 fatty acids, Zinc and Magnesium.
The general diet should contain all of these vitamins and minerals. However, if there is a deficiency of these vitamins and minerals or any kind of imbalance then it should be taken care of immediately. An imbalance in the ratios of these nutrients can cause long term complications.
The first group of these vitamins are the vitamin A family which consists of Retinol, Retinaldehyde, Retinoic acid, Retinyl acetate, Beta-Retinoic acid.
If you are looking into ways to improve the health of your skin, then here is a list of vitamins and minerals that the skin needs:
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Side Effects And Risks
B vitamins are water-soluble. This means that, most of the time, the body excretes extra B vitamins in the urine.
While a standard dosage does not seem to cause harm, excessively high doses of certain B vitamins can be dangerous. Speak with a clinician before taking very high doses of B-complex supplements.
Possible side effects of B-complex vitamins:
- High blood sugar. High doses of nicotinic acid, a synthetic form of vitamin B-3, can raise blood sugar levels. This can interfere with diabetes medications. People with diabetes or high blood sugar should not take high doses of nicotinic acid .
- Excess nicotinic acid. Too much nicotinic acid can also cause low blood pressure, fatigue, headaches, rashes, and liver damage.
- Excess nicotinamide. High doses of nicotinamide, another form of vitamin B-3, can cause diarrhea and increased bleeding. This can occur in doses of 500 mg per day. Doses higher than 3,000 mg can cause vomiting and liver damage.
- Excess folic acid. Taking more than 1,000 mcg of folic acid a day can mask a type of anemia caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Taking a high-dose B-complex supplement can also turn the urine bright yellow. This effect is temporary and harmless. Once the kidneys get rid of the extra vitamins, the color will return to normal.
