The Bull stops here

 B Vitamins (apart from B12) are water soluble and can not be storedby the body. There is not just one vitamin B it is actually broken down because there are various Vitamin Bs each with their own name. When the Vitamin Bs are taken all together they help with energy production in muscle cells and each one of the B vitamins helps the body in a different way.

B Vitamins have been used for hundreds of years in various parts of the world

Broken down, the B Vitamins help the body in a variety of ways:

• Vitamin B1 (thiamin) - helps the body convery carbohydrates into energy, also helps the metabolism of fats and proteins.
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - helps release energy from food
• Vitamin B6 - needed for the health of the nervous system and Serotonin (the good mood hormone)
• Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) - found in the function of all cells. Mainly found in fish and meat so vegetarian and vegans may be lacking.
  

You can buy the vitamin Bs on their own or in a B Complex which would be more advisable because of the cost. The B complex is also found in most Multivitamins but the strength may vary so it is worth checking the ingredients as to how much Vitamin B it contains.

You can pick them up from major supermarkets, but you will probably find the health shops will stock the higher strengths.

B Vitamins can help recovery and increases energy.

• Tablet - available as a B Cimplex and as single supplements
• Capsule - are a lot more expensive may not be as readily available.
• Liquid - Very few companies produce this form, but can be quite expensive.

The RDA for B Vitamins is quite low. Found in up to doses of 1000mg. The single supplement amounts varying this depends on your reason for taking them.

1. Although there are not really any known side effects you may want to check with a health professional if you have suffer with circulatory problems before taking.
2. You may find your urine turns a bright yellow, this is the body excreting what it does not need.

We would advise that you check with a health professional if you intend to take B Vitamins for medicinal purposes. 

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Last Updated: 6th January 2012.