B-complex vitamins are made up of eight vitamins, namely thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid and cobalamin, the American Cancer Society reports. All the B vitamins play an important role in converting the carbohydrates in the food you eat into the glucose that your body uses as fuel for its cells, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. Each vitamin also has other benefits as well.
Thiamine
Thiamine is more commonly known as vitamin B-1 and is essential for keeping your heart, muscles and nervous system functioning properly, Kidshealth.org reports. Thiamine also plays an important role in the production of red blood cells. Vitamin B-12 can be found in whole grains, lean meats, fish and dairy products.
Riboflavin
Also known as vitamin B-2, riboflavin works as an antioxidant by scavenging free radicals in your body and is essential for your body's growth and red blood cell production, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. This vitamin plays an important role in converting vitamin B-6 and folate into their active forms.
Niacin
Niacin is another name for vitamin B-3 and it is important for keeping your skin and nerves healthy, Medline Plus reports. Niacin can also help lower your cholesterol and break down blood sugar for energy. This vitamin can widen blood vessels thereby increase blood flow, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports.
Pantothenic Acid
Pantothenic Acid, also known as vitamin B-5, helps your body break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins and is important for the production of steroid hormones and other chemicals important to your body's health, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. You need 5 mg of pantothenic acid daily.
Pyridoxine
Pyridoxine is also called vitamin B6 and helps maintain nerve and brain function as well as playing a part in the production of red blood cells, Medline Plus reports. In addition, this vitamin helps your body use protein and thus aids in muscle and cellular growth.
Biotin
The B-7 vitamin is sometimes called biotin and plays a role in the production of amino acid proteins and fatty acids, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. This vitamin makes it possible for your body to metabolize proteins and carbohydrates. Regardless of your gender, you need 30 mcg of this vitamin a day.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is also referred to as vitamin B-9 and is important for many metabolic processes in your body. Your body uses this vitamin to create chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This vitamin improves blood flow, protects the heart and plays a significant role in producing genetic material.
Cobalamin
Cobalamin, also known as vitamin B-12, keeps your nerves healthy and helps in the production of red blood cells, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. It also plays a role in the production of genetic material. You need 2.4 mg of cobalamin each day. This vitamin is the only water-soluble vitamin that your body can store in its liver for a long period of time.
Member Comments