What is your relationship with B’s like?
‘A single B vitamin or a B vitamin complex?’. A question that is asked regularly. What the question should be is ‘what is your relationship with B vitamins like?’. This sounds a bit cryptic but it all depends on your needs.
B vitamins are a number of different nutrients belonging to the same vitamin family. The term B vitamins usually refers to eight core family members - vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 (Biotin), B9 (Folic acid) and B12 with a couple of distant cousin hanger-ons, inositol and choline. Like most families, B vitamins are made up of individuals with their own personalities and specialised roles, but they work best as a team. It is important to know if you need the whole family or just the special attention of one or two members.
As they are water soluble nutrients, we need to source B vitamins daily from our diet or from supplements, as our bodies don’t store them long and can’t manufacture them. The easiest way to remember what B vitamins do is to use the mantra ‘Beauty, Balance and Bounce’. They are an integral part of our health and wellbeing as there is hardly a process in the body they aren’t involved with.
Lifestyle factors and stress levels may indicate your B vitamins status might need improving. The more active you are the more likely you may need a number of B vitamins. B vitamins are involved in energy metabolism which turns food into the required components to provide your body with fuel. If you exercise regularly you can require more B vitamins than the couch potatoes amongst us. Times of high stress can also mean more B vitamins are utilized in the body as they also support the nervous system, help with mood balance, mental focus and adrenal function.
In contrast, single B vitamins may be needed for a short time even if a B complex is already taken or to top up extra specific support. Examples are women who struggle through hormonal and emotional times during the month often find additional vitamin B6 helpful or those who use niacin for natural support of cholesterol management. The two most recognized uses of single B vitamins are vitamin B12 for when energy levels are low or for those on a plant-based diet, and folic acid (vitamin B9) for women who are trying to conceive a child.
Your relationship with B vitamins may even be related to your genes! Some people have genetic issues that mean they can’t process some forms of B vitamin well. An example of this is the MTHFR gene (Methylenetrahydrofolate reductase) which is an enzyme that breaks down the amino acid homocysteine, which is linked to numerous health issues. Part of the problem for those with MTHFR mutations are they are not able to convert folic acid (vitamin B9) very well into the form the body uses. In these cases it is important to take the right form of vitamin B9, which is folate rather than folic acid.
Solgar has a wide range of single B vitamins and B vitamin complex products to choose from that will be sure to support your Beauty, Balance and Bounce needs.
Always read the label and use only as directed. If symptoms persist please see your healthcare professional. Solgar NZ Ltd, Auckland. TAPS PP6840
