What Is Vitamin B?
Vitamin B refers to several different types of vitamins that, together, are known as the B-complex vitamins. Vitamin B benefits the nerves and cells within the body and also helps with the production of DNA (the chemical substance that genes are made from).
There are 8 kinds of vitamins in the vitamin B complex: thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine B6, biotin (B7), folate (B9, also known as folic acid), and cobalamin (B12). Deficiencies in these B vitamins can lead to a number of different symptoms over time (if the deficiency isn’t reversed).
Each of these eight B vitamins play important roles in the body. B vitamins are needed to drive the chemical reactions that support your body’s many functions. For example, cells use B vitamins to generate energy from sugar, fatty acids, and other nutrients. So without B-complex vitamins, the body cannot function well.
B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins. In other words, they can dissolve in water – so excess B vitamins your body doesn’t need/use are washed out through urination.
Benefits of B Vitamins.
Benefits of Vitamin B6:
- Helps the body build neurotransmitters (like dopamine), which are special chemicals your brain needs to function
- Helps your body make red blood cells
- Helps immune system antibodies work correctly
-May help lower the risk of lung cancer (though more research is needed to firmly establish this benefit of B6)
Benefits of Vitamin B9 (Folate or Folic Acid):
- Helps the body make and repair DNA (genetic material)
- Helps your body make red blood cells
- Supplementing with high-enough levels of B9 before pregnancy (as well as during pregnancy) significantly lowers the risk of giving birth to a baby with neural tube defects like spina bifida
Benefits of Vitamin B12:
- Helps the body make and repair DNA (genetic material)
- Helps your body make red blood cells – as well as nerve cells
- Helps support healthy hair, skin, and nails
- Vitamin B12 can affect your red blood cell count, and can even lead to neurological symptoms in severe cases.
B Vitamin Deficiency: Symptoms and Causes of Low Vitamin B Levels.
When it comes to vitamins needed for both a sound body and mind, the B vitamins aren’t something you want to ignore. Take, for example, vitamin B12: don’t get enough and your energy levels throughout the day often declining.
Or consider vitamin B9 (aka folate or folic acid): a deficiency in this vitamin and you might get sores on your mouth or a swollen tongue – among other possible symptoms.
Then there’s vitamin B6. If your levels of this key B vitamin are too low, then you could be looking at flaky, oily rashes on your upper body or face.
But these aren’t the only symptoms of B vitamin deficiency. So here’s a more complete list of vitamin B deficiency symptoms.
Other Signs and Symptoms of a B Vitamin Deficiency.
Signs of B6 deficiency include:
- Getting sick from infections more often (because B6 helps support your immune system)
- Getting cracks or sores in the skin around the corners of your mouth – or a swollen and sensitive tongue
- Fatigue
- A feeling of numbness or tingling in your hands and feet (this is known as “paresthesias”)
- Depression, anxiety, and/or irritability
-A red, itchy rash – often oily or flaky – that usually appears on the upper body or face. Small areas of your skin might also swell, resulting in white patches
- Convulsions
- Decreased alertness
Signs of B9 deficiency include:
-Fatigue
-More gray hair
-Mouth sores
-A swollen tongue
-Weakness
-Shortness of breath
-Pale skin
-Irritability
Signs of B12 deficiency include:
-A feeling of numbness or tingling in your hands and feet (or “paresthesias”)
-A smooth-appearing tongue
-Fatigue
-Weakness
-Mouth sores
-Mood changes
-Blurry vision
-Loss of breath
-Dizziness
-Pale skin
If you are showing vitamin B deficiency symptoms, it may be because you do not have enough vitamin B in your diet. If you're showing signs of tiredness, light-headedness, shortness of breath, or other deficiency symptoms, consider checking your B vitamins level. For those looking to improve their vitamin B levels, Elixir offers vegan, non-GMO B-Complex supplements IV Infusions and IM Injections.
