In celebration of Mothers Day this Sunday 30^th March, we are celebrating all things feminine with a video from the inspirational TedTalks, and some information on the benefits of Vitamin B for women of all ages.

 

 

 TEDxFiDiWomen – Alisa Vitti – Loving Your Lady Parts as a Path to Success, Power & Global Change

 

 

 

 

Vitamin B

Many people take a vitamin B complex to increase energy, enhance mood, improve memory and focus, and stimulate the immune system, however B vitamins may be particularly important for women for a number of reasons. B vitamins can help alleviate PMS symptoms, and women taking the contraceptive pill may particularly want to watch their B vitamin intake as there is an established link between contraceptive pill use and depleted vitamin B6.

A vitamin B complex is a dietary supplement that contains all eight of the B vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), B12. Also found naturally in a number foods, B vitamins help the body to produce energy and form red blood cells.

 

 

Health Benefits of B Vitamins

Each B vitamin is essential for specific bodily functions:

•          B1 and B2 are important for healthy functioning of the muscles, nerves, and heart
•          B3 helps regulate the nervous and digestive systems
•          B5 and B12 are required for normal growth and development
•          B6 supports the immune system and aids the body in breaking down protein
•          B7 is involved in the production of hormones
•          B9 helps cells make and maintain DNA

Studies show that taking supplements containing certain B vitamins may benefit your health. For instance:

•          B1 may help prevent kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes and reduce risk of cataracts
•          B2 may prevent migraines; B3 may lower cholesterol levels
•          B6 may protect against heart disease, relieve PMS symptoms, and alleviate pregnancy-related nausea
•          B9 may help prevent breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. B9 (folate) can also decrease the  risk of birth defects when taken by pregnant women
•          B12 may lower cervical cancer risk and reduce levels of homocysteine (an amino acid thought to contribute to heart disease when it occurs at elevated levels)

 

Why Do People Take B Complex Supplements?

Proponents claim that vitamin B complex supplements can help with a variety of health conditions, including:

•       Anxiety   
•      Depression    
•      Fatigue   
•      Heart Disease    
•      Premenstrual Syndrome    
•      Skin Problems     

 

 

Food Sources of B Vitamins

 

•          cereals and whole grains (a source of B1, B2, and B3)
•          green leafy vegetables (a source of B2 and B9)
•          eggs (a source of B7 and B12)
•          chicken (a source of B3, B6, and B12)
•          citrus fruits (a source of B9)
•          nuts (a source of B3 and B9)
•          kidney beans (a source of B1 and B2)
•          bananas (a source of B6 and B7)

Vitamin B5 is found in almost all foods.

 

When Should You Take a B Complex Supplement?

If you’re not getting enough B vitamins from your diet, taking a B complex supplement may be beneficial. Deficiency in B vitamins can cause a number of symptoms, including tiredness, anemia, loss of appetite, depression, abdominal pain, muscle cramps, hair loss, and eczema.

 

Consult your health care provider to find out whether a B complex supplement is right for you.

 

The B Complex we currently stock is Douglas Lab’s Tri-B-100.

 

 

 

Tri-B-100

Energy and stress control

DESCRIPTION

Tri-B-100 provided by Douglas Laboratories® is a six

to eight hour timed release formulation of all the B

vitamins as well as several other important dietary

components metabolically associated with the B

 

FUNCTIONS

As coenzymes, the B vitamins are essential

components in most major metabolic reactions. As

water-soluble substances, B vitamins are not

generally stored in the body in any appreciable

amounts (with the exception of vitamin B-12).

Therefore, the body needs an adequate supply of B

vitamins on a daily basis.

Vitamin B-1 (thiamin), vitamin B-2 (riboflavin), and

niacinamide are all essential coenzymes in energy

production. Thiamin is required for the energetics of

the glycolytic and Citric Acid Cycle reactions.

Thiamin is also related to nerve impulse

transmission. Riboflavin is a component of

coenzymes FAD and FMN, which are intermediates

in many redox reactions, including energy production

and cellular respiration reactions. Niacin is a

component of the coenzymes NAD and NADP,

which are also integral components of energy

production reactions.

Vitamin B-6 dependent enzymes are required for the

biosynthesis of many neurotransmitters, including

serotonin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Vitamin

B-6, a coenzyme in amino acid metabolism, is also

necessary for the processing of homocysteine and the

conversion of tryptophan into niacin.

Folic acid together with vitamin B-12 serves as a

methyl donor for biosynthetic reactions, including the

conversion of homocysteine to methionine.

Optimum metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and

fats depends upon adequate levels of biotin and

pantothenic acid. Biotin is essential for many

metabolic carboxylation reactions, while pantothenic

acid, as part of Coenzyme A, is essential to energy

production via the Citric Acid Cycle.

While not truly vitamins, choline, inositol, and paraaminobenzoic

acid are important, related nutrients to

B vitamins. Choline serves not only as a methyl

donor for homocysteine metabolism following

conversion to betaine, but also as a structural

component of cellular membranes as

phosphatidylcholine and of the neurotransmitter

acetylcholine. Inositol aids in the cellular response to

hormonal signals, serves as a source of arachidonic

acid, and is active in cellular membranes as

phoshatidylinositol. Finally, para-aminobenzoic acid

is an integral component of folic acid as well as

having antioxidant properties.

 

INDICATIONS

Tri-B-100 tablets may be a useful dietary supplement

for those individuals who wish to increase their

intake of the B vitamins to help maintain the higher

energy levels needed for stress control.

 

FORMULA (#7913)

Each Timed Release B-Complex Tablet Contains:

Vitamin B-1 ………………………………………….100 mg

Vitamin B-2 ………………………………………….100 mg

Vitamin B-6 ………………………………………….100 mg

Vitamin B-12 ………………………………………..100 mcg

Niacinamide………………………………………….100 mg

Folic Acid …………………………………………….400 mcg

Pantothenic Acid …………………………………..100 mg

d-Biotin………………………………………………..100 mcg

Choline Bitartrate ………………………………….100 mg

Inositol…………………………………………………100 mg

PABA ………………………………………………….100 mg

(Para-Aminobenzoic Acid)

In a base designed to provide prolonged

release over a 6 to 8 hour period.

Douglas Product Data

Laboratories®

SUGGESTED USE

Adults take 1 tablet daily or as directed by physician.

 

SIDE EFFECTS

No adverse effects have been reported.

 

STORAGE

Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct light.

Keep out of reach of children.

 

REFERENCES

Anonymous. Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Genetics.

Pediatrics 1999;104:325-7.

Elkin AC, Higham J. Folic acid supplements are more effective

than increased dietary folate intake in elevating serum folate levels.

Bjog 2000;107:285-9.

Haller J. The vitamin status and its adequacy in the elderly: an

international overview. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 1999;69:160-8.

Jansonius JN. Structure, evolution and action of vitamin B6-

dependent enzymes. Curr Opin Struct Biol 1998;8:759-69.

Kim YI. Folate and cancer prevention: a new medical application

of folate beyond hyperhomocysteinemia and neural tube defects.

Nutr Rev 1999;57:314-21.

Kleijnen J, Knipschild P. Niacin and vitamin B6 in mental

functioning: a review of controlled trials in humans. Biol

Psychiatry 1991;29:931-41.

Lakshmi AV. Riboflavin metabolism–relevance to human

nutrition. Indian J Med Res 1998;108:182-90.

McCarty MF. High-dose pyridoxine as an ‘anti-stress’ strategy.

Med Hypotheses 2000;54:803-7.

Schoenthaler SJ, Bier ID. The effect of vitamin-mineral

supplementation on juvenile delinquency among American

schoolchildren: a randomized, double-blind placebo- controlled

trial [see comments]. J Altern Complement Med 2000;6:7-17.

Selhub J, Bagley LC, Miller J, et al. B vitamins, homocysteine, and

neurocognitive function in the elderly. Am J Clin Nutr

2000;71:614S-620S.

_{American Cancer Society. “Vitamin B Complex“. May 2010.}

_{Chang TY, Chou KJ, Tseng CF, Chung HM, Fang HC, Hung YM, Wu MJ, Tzeng HM, Lind CC, Lu KC. “Effects of folic acid and vitamin B complex on serum C-reactive protein and albumin levels in stable hemodialysis patients.” Curr Med Res Opin. 2007 Aug;23(8):1879-86.}

_{Clarke R, Lewington S, Sherliker P, Armitage J. “Effects of B-vitamins on plasma homocysteine concentrations and on risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia.” Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2007 Jan;10(1):32-9.}

_{Galan P, Kesse-Guyot E, Czernichow S, Briancon S, Blacher J, Hercberg S; SU.FOL.OM3 Collaborative Group. “Effects of B vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids on cardiovascular diseases: a randomised placebo controlled trial.” BMJ. 2010 Nov 29;341:c6273. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c6273.}

_{National Institutes of Health. “B Vitamins: Medline Plus“. August 2011.}

_{National Institutes of Health. “Folic acid: MedlinePlus Supplements“. August 2011.}

_{National Institutes of Health. “Niacin and niacinamide (Vitamin B3): MedlinePlus Supplements“. August 2011.}

_{National Institutes of Health. “Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6): MedlinePlus Supplements“. August 2011.}

_{National Institutes of Health. “Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): MedlinePlus Supplements“. August 2011.}

_{National Institutes of Health. “Thiamine (Vitamin B1): MedlinePlus Supplements“. August 2011.}

_{National Institutes of Health. “Vitamin B12: MedlinePlus Supplements“. August 2011.}

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.