A vitamin-B complex supplement usually delivers 8 of the B vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7/B8 (biotin), B9/B11 (folic acid), and B12 (cobalamin).
B-vitamins are water-soluble and essential for various metabolic processes. Most of these vitamins can’t be stored by the body and must be consumed regularly in the diet. Extended cooking, food processing and alcohol consumption can destroy or reduce the availability of many of these vitamins. Vitamin B deficiency occurs also in certain phases and habits of life. Therefore, an appropriate supplement is recommended for:
- Vegans & Vegetarians
- People with celiac disease
- People over 50 years
- Pregnant women
- Women taking the birth control pill
- Malnourished and undernourished people
- High consumption of coffee, alcohol or cigarettes
- Physically very active people
- Competitive athletes
- Constantly stressed & Workaholics
- People during or after a burn-out
- Hyperactivity
- Chronically ill people (gastritis, diabetics, gastric surgery…)
- Kidney or liver patients
- Bowel patients
- Recently operated
Without B-group vitamins the body lacks energy as they are needed to help the body to use the energy-yielding nutrients (such as carbohydrates, fat and protein) for fuel and to help cells to multiply by making new DNA.
Taking any one of the B vitamins as a single supplement for a long period of time can result in an imbalance of other important B vitamins. For this reason, it is recommendable to take a supplement, which includes the full spectrum of the B vitamins.