B vitamins play a vital role in maintaining good health and well-being. As the building blocks of a healthy body, B vitamins have a direct impact on your energy levels, brain function, and cell metabolism.
Vitamin B complex may help prevent infections and help support or promote:
cell health
growth of red blood cells
energy levels
eyesight
brain function
digestion
appetite
proper nerve function
hormones and cholesterol production
cardiovascular health
muscle tone
Vitamin B complex is composed of the following vitamins:
B1 (thiamine)
B2 (riboflavin)
B3 (niacin)
B5 (pantothenic acid)
B6 (pyridoxine)
Biochemically, different structures are grouped together under B complex on the basis of their natural occurrence in the same type of food and solubility in water. Since humans are not able to synthesize vitamins in B complex on their own and these vitamins are easily excreted from the body through urine, their regular intake is essential to maintain energy production, DNA/RNA synthesis/repair, genomic and non-genomic methylation as well as synthesis of numerous neurochemicals and signaling molecules. B complex deficiency is normally caused due to four possible reasons; high consumption of processed and refined food, with lack of dairy and meat-based food in diet, excessive consumption of alcohol, impaired absorption from the gastrointestinal tract or impaired storage and use by liver.1
Certain underlying health conditions can prevent your body from properly absorbing vitamin B. You should also talk with your doctor about your vitamin B intake if you have:
kidney conditions
How can you tell if you’re deficient?
Most people get enough B vitamins by eating a balanced diet. However, it’s still possible to be deficient, especially if you’ve been taking certain medications for a while, such as proton pump inhibitors, or if you follow a very strict vegan or vegetarian diet.
The following symptoms may signal that you’re not getting enough B vitamins:
skin rashes
cracks around the mouth
scaly skin on the lips
swollen tongue
fatigue
weakness
anemia
confusion
irritability or depression
nausea
abdominal cramps
diarrhea
constipation
numbness or tingling in the feet and hands
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms and aren’t sure why, make an appointment to talk with your doctor. Although it’s possible that you’re experiencing a vitamin B deficiency, these symptoms also overlap with many other underlying conditions. Your doctor can make a diagnosis and advise you on next steps.
Can being deficient increase your risk of certain conditions?
If you’re deficient in B vitamins you may experience a range of symptoms, depending on which B vitamins you’re lacking.
If left untreated, a deficiency could increase your risk for:
anemia
digestive issues
skin conditions
infections
peripheral neuropathy
Talk with a doctor about supplements
It’s always a good idea to talk with your doctor before you add any supplements to your routine. You can discuss your desired health goal and why you think supplementation is necessary. Your doctor can help you determine if this is the best treatment option and advise you on any next steps.
Some supplements can interact with certain underlying conditions and medications, so it’s important to keep your doctor informed.
You should also see your doctor if you think you may be deficient in B vitamins. They can help determine what’s causing your symptoms and, if needed, recommend ways to increase your B vitamin intake.
Call us at (612) 492-1967 to schedule an appointment with one of our Registered Nurses.
Serving Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester and surrounding areas.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Vitamin supplementation is for wellness only, and not intended to cure or treat disease.