Vitamins of group B: vitamin B1 and others

Vitamins are organic substances that have high biological activity, even if their content in the body is negligible. They affect such important functions of the human body as immunity, hormonal balance, vision, etc. Vitamins can not be synthesized in the human body. The role of vitamins is to provide a variety of catalytic reactions in the body. The number of currently known vitamins, which are of great importance in the regulation of all body functions and metabolism, reaches twenty.

The term "vitamin" (vita - life, lat.) Was introduced in 1912 by a Polish biochemist whose name is Funk Kazimierz. He isolated thiamine, or vitamin B1, from rice. Distinguish vitamins water-soluble - vitamin B1 and B6, all vitamins of group B, vitamin PP, ascorbic acid, and fat-soluble - vitamins A, E, D, K and prostaglandins. With excess content in the body of fat-soluble vitamins, they become toxic, with an excess of water-soluble vitamins they are excreted from the body with urine.

What are the B vitamins , how many of them are they and what are they for? This group consists of eight vitamins: thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), nicotinic acid (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), cobalamin (B12), folic acid and biotin.

Vitamin B1 plays an important role in the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, helps to maintain the normal operation of the heart, is necessary for the full development and growth of the body, digestive and nervous systems, does not have toxic properties. Most people get vitamin B1 along with plant foods such as beans, peas, spinach, yeast, soy, wheat bread. Vitamin B1 is found in the liver, kidneys, beef and pork, in addition thiamine is synthesized by certain bacteria of the microflora of the large intestine.

Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, is necessary to regulate the breakdown of fats and proteins, acts as a coenzyme, is necessary for the health of the nerve pathways and skin, and is involved in the oxygen reaction. Symptoms of deficiency: inflammation of soft tissues near the mouth and nose, seborrheic dermatitis, discomfort in bright light, inflammation of the tongue. Vitamin B2 is found in milk, cereals, meat, cheese, eggs and peas.

Nicotinic acid (B3) is necessary for the human body for metabolism, skin, nervous system and gastrointestinal health. Deficiency of vitamin B3 causes pellagra, a disease that was previously one of the most common among poor people. Symptoms of deficiency: dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia (often with a fatal outcome). Pellagra also affects the oral cavity. Contains nicotinic acid in meat, fish, yeast, milk, eggs, legumes, potatoes and peanuts.

Pyridoxine or vitamin B6 takes part in the exchange of proteins and fats, as well as during the decomposition of carbohydrates. Deficiency of vitamin B6 is extremely rare. It is found in large quantities in many foods: liver, meat, fish, brown rice, butter, cereals, wheat germ, beans, etc.

Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) acts as a co-enzyme in the synthesis of DNA, is necessary for the functioning of the nervous system, the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. Often the deficit of this vitamin develops in vegetarians who do not get enough of it from plant products, so they are shown vitamin B12 in ampoules.

Folic acid is indispensable in the process of DNA and RNA synthesis, erythrocyte maturation, participates in the formation of hemoglobin and the breakdown of proteins, is necessary for all biochemical reactions in the body. Its deficiency slows down growth, causes anemia. Folic acid is found in almost all plant products.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and biotin are involved in the metabolism of lipids, fats, carbohydrates and some amino acids, produced by bacteria in the intestine, contained in meat, cereals and legumes.