Vitamin B-Complex

The B-Complex vitamins are active in providing the body with energy, by basically converting carbohydrates into glucose, which the body burns to produce energy.  B vitamins are vital in the metabolism of fats and proteins.  In addition, the B vitamins are necessary and may be the single most important factor for normal functioning of the nervous system and the health of the nerves.  They are essential for maintenance of muscle tone in the gastrointestinal tract and for the health of skin, hair, nails, mouth, liver and every bodily function.

Because of the water-solubility of the B-Complex vitamins, any excess is excreted instead of being stored.  Therefore, they must be replaced daily.

The most important thing to remember is that all the B vitamins should be taken together.  They are interrelated in function.  As long as you take the B-Complex vitamins, you may take extra of any given individual B vitamin as long as you do not take massive doses for extended periods of time.

Stress destroys massive amounts of B vitamins as does infection and alcohol.  Nervous individuals and people working under tension can greatly benefit from taking larger than normal doses of the B vitamins.  Alcoholics and individuals who consume excessive amount of carbohydrates and coffee require a higher intake of B vitamins for proper metabolism.  The B vitamins have been used successfully in the treatment of alcoholic psychoses, drug overdoses and drug induced delirium.

An adequate dose of B-Complex has been found to control migraine headaches and attacks of Meniere’s syndrome.  Some heart abnormalities have responded to use of B-complex because the nerves affecting the heart need these vitamins for smooth, quiet functioning.  Massive dosages have been used to cure polio, improve the condition of hypersensitive children and to improve cases of shingles.  Children and pregnant women need extra B vitamins for normal growth.

The 13 or more B vitamins are so meagerly supplied in the American diet that almost everyone lacks some of them.  If a person is tired, irritable, nervous, depressed, or even suicidal, suspect a B vitamin deficiency.  Gray hair, hair loss acne, or other skin troubles, poor appetite and indigestion, insomnia, neuritis, anemia, constipation, and high cholesterol level are also indicators of a B vitamin deficiency.  Having an enlarged tongue (including the buds on each side) that is shiny, bright red and full of groves, cracks at corners of the mouth, canker sores or tender gums means B vitamins are needed.

There is such a deficiency in our diet because the process in which food is prepared takes out the natural B vitamins and because of the large amounts of sugar, which destroys B vitamins, we Americans consume on a daily basis.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting, resulting from anesthesia, can be successfully treated with B-complex.  Menstrual difficulty is often relieved with B vitamins and they may also help vaginitis, pellagra, burning feet, burning and drying eyes, eyestrain, night blindness, fatigue and weight problems.

One cannot over state the importance of the liquid B-complex.  It is absolutely necessary in achieving and maintaining good health.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Vitamin B1 deficiency is characterized by severe fatigue and depression.   Scientists are interested in Vitamin B1 deficiencies resulting in memory deficits closely resembling the mental deterioration of Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative brain disorder.

The importance of Vitamin B1 should not be over looked. Without it, loss of appetite, depression and other psychological problems develop along with loss of memory, gastric abdominal pains and constipation.  Also, heart irregularity, prickling sensations and tenderness of the calf muscles can occur.  With the use of Vitamin B1, energy levels are high, the mind is clear and focused and emotions function normally.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Vitamin B2 functions as part of a group of enzymes that are involved in the breakdown and utilization of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.  Vitamin B2 is necessary for cell oxygen.  It is also necessary for the maintenance of good vision, skin, nails and hair.

The most common symptoms of lack of Vitamin B2 are cracks and sores in the corners of the mouth, a red sore tongue, feeling of grit and sand on the inside of the eyelids, burning eyes, eye fatigue, dilation of the pupils, changes in the cornea and sensitivity to light.   Also, lesions of the lips, scaling around the nose mouth, forehead and ears, trembling, sluggishness, dizziness, dropsy, inability to urinate, vaginal itching, oily skin and baldness indicate a deficiency.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Vitamin B3 is necessary for carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism.  It helps maintain health of skin, tongue and the digestive system.

Symptoms of deficiency include dermatitis, digestive disturbances and sore mouth and gums.

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)

Vitamin B5 stimulates the adrenal glands and increases production of cortisone and other adrenal hormones that are important for healthy skin and nerves.

Adequate intake of Vitamin B5 reduces the toxicity effects of many antibiotics.  It aids in the prevention of premature aging and wrinkles.

Symptoms of a deficiency may include vomiting, restlessness, abdominal pains, burning feet, muscle cramps, sensitivity to insulin, decreased antibody formation and upper respiratory infections.  A deficiency may lead to skin disorders, adrenal exhaustion and low blood sugar and may also result in duodenal ulcers.  Because the brain contains one of the highest concentrations of Vitamin B5, mental symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue and depression can result in the case of a deficiency.

Vitamin B5 is important in defense against stress and it also helps build antibodies for fighting infections.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B6 is required for the proper absorption of Vitamin B12 and for the production of hydrochloric acid and magnesium.  It must be present for the production of antibodies and red blood cells.

In cases of Vitamin B6 deficiency, there are low blood sugar levels and low glucose tolerance, resulting in a sensitivity to insulin.  Deficiency may cause loss of hair, cracks around the mouth and eyes, water retention during pregnancy, numbness, neuritis, arthritis, heart and nerve disorders, temporary paralysis of a limb and an increase in urination.  Symptoms of a Vitamin B6 deficiency are similar to those seen in Vitamin B3 and Vitamin B2 deficiencies and may include muscular weakness, nervousness, irritability, depression and dermatitis.  Symptoms such as tingling hands, shoulder hand syndrome, wrist hand syndrome and arthritis associated with menopause may also be present.

Vitamin B7 (Biotin)

Vitamin B7 assists in the making of fatty acids and in the oxidation of fatty acids and carbohydrates.  Without Vitamin B7, the body’s fat production is impaired.  Vitamin B7 aids in the utilization of protein, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B5 and Vitamin B12.  A deficiency of Vitamin B7 causes muscular pain, a lack of appetite and energy, dry skin, sleeplessness and a disturbed nervous system.  Dermatitis, grayish skin color and depression are other symptoms of a Vitamin B7 deficiency.  In severe cases, there may be impairment of the body’s fat metabolism, lowered hemoglobin levels and raised cholesterol levels.

Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)

Vitamin B9 is necessary for proper brain function, concentrating mainly in the spinal and extra cellular fluids and is essential for the mental and emotional health.  Vitamin B9 increases the appetite and stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid, which helps prevent intestinal parasites and food poisoning.  In addition, it aids in performance of the liver.

In surveys conducted, Vitamin B9 was shown to be one the nutrients most often deficient in our diets.  Deficiencies result in poor growth, graying hair, tongue inflammation and gastrointestinal-tract disturbances, anemia, irritability, forgetfulness and mental sluggishness.

A need for this vitamin is especially increased during pregnancy.  The fetus, meeting its need for rapid growth easily depletes the mother’s reserve.  The World Health Organization reports that one third to one half of pregnant women are Vitamin B9 deficient in the last three months of pregnancy.  Almost any interference with the metabolism of Vitamin B9 in the fetus encourages deformities such as cleft palate, brain damage, slow development and poor learning ability in the child.  In addition, deficiency of Vitamin B9 my lead to toxemia, premature birth, after birth hemorrhaging, and megaloblastic anemia in both the mother and child.

Vitamin B12 (Cyancobalamin)

Vitamin B12 is necessary for normal metabolism of nerve tissue and is involved in protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism.  Vitamin B12 helps the placement of Vitamin A into body tissue aiding carotene absorption; or Vitamin A conversion.  It also aids in the production of DNA and RNA, the body’s genetic material.

It may take up to five or six years for symptoms to appear after the body’s supply of Vitamin B12 from natural sources has been restricted.  These symptoms begin with changes in the legs and arms, diminished reflex response and sensory perception, difficulty in walking, speaking (stammering) and jerking of the limbs.

Lack of Vitamin B12 has been found to cause a type of brain damage resembling schizophrenia.  The brain damage may be detected by the following symptoms:  sore mouth, numbness or stiffness, a feeling of deadness, shooting pains, feeling like needles and pins are poking the skin or hot and cold sensations.

Vitamin B12 has provided relief for fatigue, increased nervous irritability, mild impairment in the memory, inability to concentrate, mental depression, insomnia and lack of balance.  Vitamin B12 has also been used successfully in the treatment of hepatitis, bursitis and asthma.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A aids in the growth and repair of body tissues and helps maintain smooth, soft, disease free skin.  Internally it helps protect the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs, thereby reducing susceptibility to infection.  Other important functions of Vitamin A include the building of strong bones, teeth and white blood cells, the formation of rich blood and the maintenance of good eyesight.  RNA production is greatly enhanced by Vitamin A.

Heavy use of the eyes from watching television and working under glaring lights require more Vitamin A.  It is essential in the formation of visual purple, a substance in the eye which is necessary for proper night vision.  The eyes are well known indicators of Vitamin A deficiency.  One of the first symptoms is night blindness which is an inability of eyes to adjust to darkness.  Another eye related deficiency symptom is xerosis, a disease in which the eyeball looses luster, becoming dry and inflamed and visual accuracy is reduced.

Other signs of deficiency include rough, dry skin, prematurely aged skin, acne, loss of smell, loss of appetite, frequent fatigue, skin blemishes, sties in the eyes and diarrhea.  Vitamin A may be lacking when the hair looses its sheen and luster, when dandruff accumulates and fingernails become brittle.

There is also evidence that Vitamin A is related to sexual development and reproduction.  Studies have shown that men with low sperm levels, after being given Vitamin A along with Vitamin E, return to normal.  Also, a vitamin deficiency in females causes inability to conceive and they have a higher susceptibility to miscarriage.

In animal studies, females that were Vitamin A deficient yet able to conceive, still had problems such as difficult births, death of the fetus, cleft palate and other congenital defects.

Researchers believe that this vitamin counters the cancerous process by activating the body’s immune system and preventing the thymus gland from shrinking.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Vitamin C’s primary function is maintenance of collagen, a protein necessary for the formation of connective tissue in skin, ligaments and bones.  Vitamin C plays a role in healing wounds and burns, forming red blood cells and preventing hemorrhaging.   In addition, Vitamin C fights bacterial infections reducing the effects on the body of some allergy producing substances.

Large concentrations of Vitamin C are found in the adrenal glands and the vitamin is essential in the formation of the adrenals.

Signs of deficiency are shortness of breath, impaired digestion, poor lactation, bleeding gums, weakened enamel dentine, a tendency to bruise easily, having swollen or painful joints, nosebleeds, anemia, lowered resistance to infection and slow healing.  Scurvy is the result of a severe deficiency.  Breaks in the capillary walls are also a sigh of a lack of Vitamin C.  Clots usually form at the point of these breaks, so therefore, a deficiency is a probable cause of heart attacks and strokes being initiated by such clots.

Vitamin C stimulates the production of interferon and acts as an inactivator against viruses including herpes, vaccinia, hepatitis, polio, encephalitis, measles and pneumonia.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium from the intestinal tract and the break down and assimilation of phosphorous, which is required for bone formation.  Vitamin D is necessary for the normal growth in children, for without it, bones and teeth do not calcify properly.

Vitamin D is valuable in maintaining a stable nervous system, normal heart action and normal blood clotting.

A deficiency of Vitamin D leads to inadequate absorption of calcium from the intestinal tract.  The results are softening of the skull and bones, bowing of the legs, spinal curvature, enlargement of wrist, knee and ankle joints, poorly developed muscles and nervous irritability.

Vitamin D is most valuable when taken with Vitamin A.

Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, meaning that it opposes oxidation of substances in the body.  Oxidation involves a compound, called an oxidize, which attacks another compound, removing an electron from it.

Vitamin E prevents saturated fatty acids and Vitamin A from breaking down and combining with other substances that may become harmful to the body.  Vitamin E plays an essential role in cellular respiration of all muscles, especially cardiac and skeletal, and makes it possible for these muscles and their nerves to function with less oxygen, thereby increasing their endurance and stamina.  It also causes dilation of the blood vessels, permitting a fuller flow of blood to the heart.  Vitamin E also aids in retarding the aging process, and is necessary for proper focusing of the eyes and when used on burns and wounds, it promotes healing and is effective in the prevention of elevated scar formation on the skin and within the body.  It helps prevent miscarriages, increases male and female fertility and helps restore male potency.

The first clinical sign of a Vitamin E deficiency is the rupture of red blood cells, which results from their increased fragility.  Vitamin E deficiencies reduce the level of functioning to the adrenals and pituitary glands.  Iron absorption and hemoglobin formation is also impaired.  Women who are severely deficient in Vitamin E, often cannot carry a pregnancy successfully and miscarry.  Premature births frequently result from insufficient intake of Vitamin E during pregnancy, leaving the infant susceptible to anemia and edema.  Hemorrhaging can occur in newborn infants that lack Vitamin E.

A deficiency of Vitamin E can also be related to heart disease.  Approximately 25,000 children are born with heart defects every year in the United States.  Evidence is accumulating to indicate that a lack of sufficient Vitamin E may be a contributing factor in children with atherosclerosis.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is necessary for the formation of prothrombin, a chemical required with blood clotting.  It is also vital for normal liver functioning and has important vitality and longevity factors. 

Deficiencies of Vitamin K result from an inadequate absorption or the body’s ability to utilize Vitamin K in the liver.  Vitamin K deficiency is common in diseases such as celiac disease (intestinal malabsorption), spruce (malabsorption in adulthood), and colitis, which affect the absorbing of mucosa of the small intestine and cause a rapid loss of intestinal contents.  In a deficiency, a condition may occur where blood clotting time is greatly prolonged and can cause hemorrhaging in any body part including the brain, spinal cord and intestinal tract.  A Vitamin k deficiency can cause miscarriages, nosebleeds and can be a factor in cellular disease and diarrhea.