Vitamins in Yeast

Yeast is the name for any one of a number of single-celled fungal organisms of a variety of different genera and species. The most common yeast in food is the organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sometimes called brewer's yeast or bread yeast. Because yeast is a living organism, it's rich in certain vitamins.

Thiamine

Also called vitamin B1, thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin that is taken up by cells and modified to any of a number of forms of the vitamin called thiamine phosphates. The thiamine phosphates largely function as coenzymes in the human body. In their book "Biochemistry," Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham explain that coenzymes are chemicals that work together with enzymes, allowing the enzymes to function. Enzymes are proteins that help chemical reactions take place faster than they otherwise would, so vitamin B1 has critical roles in a number of chemical reactions in the body. In particular, B1 appears to play roles in nervous system reactions and functions.

Pyridoxine

Another vitamin in yeast is pyridoxine, or vitamin B6. Like thiamine, pyridoxine is water soluble, and the cells take it up from the bloodstream after it's absorbed from the gut. As explained by Dr. Lauralee Sherwood in her book "Human Physiology," pyridoxine has a number of important roles in the body; among these are helping to balance concentrations of various ions, such as sodium and potassium. Concentrations of these ions affect cell-to-cell communication, movement and neural transmission, so pyridoxine is critical to normal cellular function.

Folate

Folate, or vitamin B9, is another of the vitamins contained in yeast. Drs. Mary Campbell and Shawn Farrell explain that the human body uses folate for a variety of purposes, including DNA synthesis and DNA repair. Since DNA is genetic material, cells need to synthesize it in order to divide; and repairing DNA helps prevent aging, cancer and environmental toxin or radiation damage. Further, pregnant women need folate for their unborn babies, who use the vitamin to form the neural tube. Because the neural tube goes on to become the spinal cord and column, folate consumption helps prevent birth defects.