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Vitamin B: Are You Getting Enough?

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All hail the B vitamins!  They largely run the show in your body, but are you getting enough of them? While we know that they are extremely important for overall heath, researchers are still discovering the extent of their powers. We know most of our bodies' 13 essential vitamins by a single letter:  vitamin A, vitamin C and so on.  But eight of these begin with the letter B, with each of them being so chemically distinct that each has an important role essential to our well being. They help us convert carbs, fats and proteins into fuel.  Vitamins B2, B3 and B7 help with skin health. Vitamins B5, B6, B9 and B12 help us form red blood cells.

But those are just some of the well-established biological functions. New research is uncovering just how far reaching B vitamins' effects are.

BRAWN: Researchers have found that physically active individuals with low levels of B vitamins perform worse during high-intensity exercise than those with adequate levels. The study also found that low levels of B vitamins contribute to the reduction in the body's ability to repair muscles and build muscle mass.

BREATHE: B vitamins may reduce negative effects of air pollution. A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports led researchers to believe there may be a role for B vitamins in countering the very dangerous effects of air pollution on cardiovascular and immune system functions. In the small study, healthy non-smokers who took B-vitamin supplements nearly reversed the negative effects of two hours of exposure to fine particle pollution.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that over 90 percent of the world's population live in areas where air pollution exceeds WHO limits.  According to the WHO, about 6.5 million deaths each year are linked to exposure to air pollution; health impacts include cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.

BRAIN: B vitamins may help maintain brain health in older people with memory problems. But researchers, studying 266 older people with mild cognitive decline over a two-year period, found that supplementing with B vitamins was more effective in those with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. The researchers concluded that for some older people, a combination of omega-3 supplements and B vitamins may help improve thinking and memory.

 

 

 

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