One of the most common side effects of cancer and the related treatments is cancer-related fatigue, as described by the Cleveland Clinic. Fatigue differs from just general tiredness. Tiredness resolves with rest, but fatigue involves a daily lack of energy that fails to improve with rest. Cancer patients suffering from a lack of energy may find it helpful to take a B-complex vitamin. The B vitamins, essential for normal growth and development, play major roles in converting food into energy.
Thiamin
Thiamin, also known as vitamin B-1, plays a critical role in the production of energy from food. Once ingested, reactions in the body add phosphates to the thiamin creating the enzymes thiamin pyrophosphate -- TPP. As food enters the digestive tract enzymes help to break down the proteins, carbohydrates and fats. TPP triggers several different reactions that break down carbohydrates into glucose the body can use for energy.
Riboflavin
Riboflavin, or vitamin B-2, acts as a coenzyme -- a molecule that binds to an enzyme to activate it. The human body needs riboflavin coenzymes, known as flavocoenzymes, to participate in oxidation-reduction reactions, also called redox reactions. Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons -- negatively charged particles -- which produces energy.
Niacin
Like riboflavin, niacin also functions as a coenzyme that supports many of the oxidation-reduction reactions in the body. In the body niacin, also known as vitamin B-3, forms the two coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide -- NAP and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate -- NADP. NAD is involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins which produces energy for the body.
Biotin
Biotin, known as vitamin B-7, helps the body produce and store energy. Biotin attaches to enzymes known as carboxylases. Pyruvate carboxylase formed by biotin plays a critical role in the formation of glucose -- the body's energy source -- from sources other than carbohydrates. This process increases the body's energy stores.
Folate
The body requires folate, less commonly called vitamin B-9, for the production of normal red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all the cells in the body. Cells deprived of oxygen cannot function effectively leading to feelings of fatigue. Therefore, taking vitamins that support red blood cell production helps to combat feelings of extreme tiredness.
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12, the largest of the B vitamins, contains the metal ion cobalt. Once ingested the body converts vitamin B-12 into two compounds; methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosyl cobalamin. 5-deoxyadenosyl cobalamin aids in one of the chemical reactions that produces energy from fats and proteins. In addition, the body needs vitamin B-12 for the production of red blood cells, which also helps fight fatigue.
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