B vitamins - is the energy needed by all cells of the body, but especially the brain. Therefore, the B vitamins are considered vitamins, vital for the central nervous system. These vitamins are also necessary for the proper operation of other organs and systems.

Characteristics of the B vitamins - so how much is it all vitamins?

B vitamins have been gradually opened during the first half of the last century. At the same time they are often "discovered" several times under different names, so there is still some confusion in their names. Today is officially recognized by the presence of seven B vitamins This vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (PP or niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B9 (folic acid) Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin).

They promote the revitalization of brain cells (neurons), improving the transmission of nerve impulses within the brain and in peripheral nervous system. Each of the B vitamins has a "specialization" and is therefore a vital vitamin for the human body.

Vitamin B1 - tonic brain

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) as a coenzyme (part of enzymes - substances that speed up biochemical reactions) maintains normal nervous system, heart and muscles. This happens by activating the carbohydrate metabolism, resulting in better cells use glucose - the energy source needed to improve other types of exchange. Under the influence of vitamin B1 improves mental performance, memory, clarity of thought appears.

Vitamin B1 is contained in whole grains, brown rice, peas, beans, ham, oranges, baked potatoes, brewer's yeast, raisins. The daily need for this vitamin is 1, 5-2 mg, with high physical and neuropsychiatric stress, alcohol intoxication, excessive smoking, drinking strong tea and sweets, it increases.

Vitamin B2 - antioxidant

Vitamin B2 (riboflafin) - antioxidant Antioxidants: the truth about the notorious benefits Involved in many types of metabolism, especially the metabolism of proteins, promotes the absorption of fat, maintains and restores the function of the nervous, digestive, cardiovascular systems involved in hematopoiesis (increased blood levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin) maintains normal mucosal skin and eye.

The daily need for this vitamin - 2 mg. It contains dairy products, bananas Bananas: the benefits and harms health , Eggs, beef liver, wheat germ. Vitaminm B2 tolerates high temperatures.

Vitamin B3 - Energy and reductant hormonal

Vitamin B3 (vitamin PP, nicotinic acid Nicotinic acid: what is its benefit to man? Niacin) as a coenzyme is an active participant in redox reactions helps extract the energy of their food. It improves carbohydrate metabolism, causes a decrease in general and the "bad" cholesterol, participates in the synthesis of hormones and enzymes, promotes vasodilation.

Lack of vitamin B3 leads to the development of pellagra, bad moods and depression Depression - a little more than a bad mood . The daily need for this vitamin for men - 16-28 mg, for women - 16 mg during pregnancy - 18 mg. Vitamin B3 found in animal organs (liver, kidneys, muscles), fish, milk and dairy products, buckwheat, vegetables, fruits.

Vitamin B5 - the most common in nature vitamin

Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is a part of coenzyme A, which plays an important role in the metabolism, particularly in carbohydrate and fat metabolism. Vitamin B5 is contained in large amounts by the adrenal cortex and stimulates the production of corticosteroid hormones.

The human need for pantothenic acid - 10-12 mg per day, it is found in liver, kidney, eggs, fish roe, peas, yeast and many other products. Additionally, this vitamin is produced in the human intestine Escherichia coli. Large amounts of vitamin B5 is required when polyneuritis, neuralgia, sensory disturbances, allergic diseases.

Vitamin B6 - the most important bioenergetics

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) in the body is converted into pyridoxal and pyridoxamine, which also have properties of vitamins. All of them are involved in protein metabolism, in the synthesis of amino acids and neurotransmitters (substances by nerve impulses which has been transmitted), help to reduce the "bad" cholesterol, stimulate physical performance, support the nervous and immune systems, skin condition.

The daily requirement for vitamin B6 - 2 mg, contained in beef, including beef liver, chicken, tuna, salmon, sunflower oil, potatoes, lentils.

Vitamin B9 - protector against birth defects

Vitamin B9 (folic acid) plays an important role in heredity, as taking an active part in the formation of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. Especially the demand for it increases during pregnancy - it protects the fetus from developmental defects. He is also actively involved in hematopoiesis and is antianemic factor.

The daily requirement of folic acid - 0, 2 mg during pregnancy - up to 0, 6 mg, and more. Contained in all kinds of cabbage, greens, lentils, citrus fruits, liver.

Vitamin B12 - subsistence blood

Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) provides the processes of blood (hemoglobin synthesis), stimulates the formation of amino acids and nucleic acids, helps reduce "bad" cholesterol, treats certain types of nerve disorders (protects against the destruction of nerve fibers).

The daily requirement for vitamin B12 - 2 mcg, pregnant women - 3 g. Found only in animal foods - beef and beef liver, milk, sea fish, eggs.

Folic acid in the body carries out the role of coenzyme - Connect with enzymes, it is actively involved in metabolic processes, ensuring the growth and development of the body, including during prenatal development. Folic acid deficiency can lead to the development of severe anemia.

The mechanism of action of folic acid

Folic acid (vitamin B9) - is a B vitamin, which has different properties and is necessary for growth and development. In the body, folic acid is not formed, it is supplied with food or synthesized by natural microflora in the intestine. Once in the body, it is part of the enzyme as a part of (CoA) and participates in the exchange (serine, glycine, histidine) and the synthesis of amino acids (e.g. methionine) and other biologically active substances.

Especially need folic acid Folic acid - the value is hard to overestimate   during pregnancy - it prevents the development of congenital defects of the fetus. It is widely known and antianemic action of folic acid - it is a stimulator of red blood cells. In addition, folic acid stimulates the production of white blood cells, improves mental and physical performance, intelligence and memory, improves mood, nervous system, stimulates the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, strengthens the intestinal wall, improves the metabolism of fat (including cholesterol metabolism), and hormones woman, prevents the development of cancer and diarrhea, and has a beneficial effect on the skin and its appendages. Folic acid is essential for the development of the cardiovascular and immune systems. During pregnancy, folic acid has been actively involved in the growth and development of the fetus.

Folic acid is found in liver, fish, meat, cheese, cheese, bread from wheat flour, buckwheat and oat cereals, parsley Parsley Health and Beauty , Lettuce, onions, cabbage of all kinds, green peas, mushrooms, strawberries. But it is rapidly degraded by heat treatment.

If the food is not enough folic acid, as well as disrupting the natural intestinal microflora (dysbiosis), it can cause a violation of the maturation of red blood cells and the development of a special type of anemia folievodefitsitnoy. In pregnant women, folic acid deficiency can lead to miscarriages and defects in the development of organs and tissues of the fetus.

After ingestion folic acid binds with a particular substance which plays an important role in the prevention of anemia (intrinsic factor), then absorbed in the duodenum, it falls first into the bloodstream (by binding it to plasma proteins) and then into the tissue, and then partially decomposed in the liver and excreted in the urine in the idea of ​​metabolites and unchanged.

Indications and contraindications for the use of folic acid

Folic acid is shown in the following diseases and conditions:

• when megaloblastic anemia - when the blood appear very large red blood cells with high hemoglobin soderzhaeniem prone to destruction;
• sprue - chronic diseases typical of the tropics, which occurs with diarrhea, mucosal lesions of the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow;
• with a decrease in the number of red blood cells and white blood cells that arose under the influence of drug treatment or increased radiation;
• with anemia, occurred against the backdrop of gastrectomy;
• chronic gastroenteritis, which may lead to malabsorption of folic acid in the gastrointestinal tract;
• intestinal tuberculosis Tuberculosis of the intestine - is rarely an isolated disease   - It also disrupts the absorption of folic acid;
• Pregnancy and breast- Breastfeeding - a personal choice   breast - increases the need for folic acid;
• with insufficient intake of folic acid intake.

Folic acid is contraindicated if you are hypersensitive drug. Side effects may occur mainly in the form of allergic reactions - different kind of itchy rashes, urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm, fever. With prolonged use of folic acid is necessary to periodically determine levels of vitamin B12.

With simultaneous use of folic acid and certain medications (analgesics, anticonvulsants, lowering gastric acidity, sulfanilamide, antibiotics, cytostatics) reduced its effect.

Folic acid - a vitamin that is vital to the human body, especially in utero.

Galina Romanenko