The extraordinary variety of cell processes and chemical reactions in the body that are mediated by vitamins cannot be overstated. Whether tissues are growing or undergoing repair after damage, vitamins are involved in most of the cellular processes. Those who lack one or more vitamins in their diets can suffer profound detrimental effects.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 exists in three chemical forms: pyridoxamine, pyridoxine and pyridoxal. It is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning it isn't stored in the body, and occurs naturally in foods such as fish, poultry, meats, fruits beans and vegetables. Fortified foods and oral supplements are a good source. Vitamin B6 plays a vital role in making enzymes for protein synthesis. It also is required for certain immune functions as well as metabolism in red blood cells. Additionally, this vitamin plays a key role in the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Researchers have been investigating the relationship between vitamin B6 and a variety of neurologic conditions including seizures, chronic pain, depression, headache, and Parkinson's disease, according to 2007 information from the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health. A vitamin B6 deficiency can result in nerve damage called neuropathy. However, high doses of this vitamin can also cause neuropathy, so its role in nerve damage is not well understood. As a once recommended treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, vitamin B6 is no longer considered effective for this condition. The Office of Dietary Supplements recommends a limit of 100 mg per day of vitamin B6 supplements.
Folic Acid
Vitamin B9 is also called folic acid. Available naturally as folate or from supplements, the National Institutes of Health states that this vitamin is not biologically active until it is converted by the liver. Folic acid's primary role in the body is to mediate cell reproduction. It is needed for DNA synthesis as well as other processes involving cell metabolism. With respect to nervous system development, folic acid plays a key role in an embryo's growth. It allows the rudimentary nervous system, known as the neural tube, to close in a major stage of brain and spinal cord formation. Lack of folic acid in the maternal diet can result in malformation of the neural tube and birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly, both of which involve external exposure of the central nervous system. A daily folic acid dose of 600 mcg in the mother's diet can prevent these defects.
Vitamin B-12
The water-soluble vitamin known as B-12 can be taken as a dietary supplement or can come from animal products such as fish, poultry, meat, milk products and eggs. Vitamin B-12 is vital in maintaining normal cellular functions, such as DNA synthesis, and plays a key role red blood cell formation. For maintaining the nervous system, vitamin B-12 plays certain metabolic roles which highlight its widespread importance, according to the Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness. For example, deficiency in this vitamin can lead to particular dysfunctions of the brain and peripheral nervous system. In the brain, deficiency can result in dementia and psychosis. In the spinal cord, deficiency can cause problems such as spasticity, loss of coordination and walking difficulty. Deficiency in the peripheral nervous system can result in numbness and weakness of the limbs, impotence and urinary or bowel dysfunction. The recommended adult daily dose of vitamin B-12 is 2.4 mcg, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements.
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