B vitamins used to be thought of as one single vitamin, simply called vitamin B. Now scientists know that there are eight different types of B vitamins. All of them are necessary for proper cell function. The vitamins that we recognize today are vitamins B1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 12. The substances that filled the gaps in the B-series were once considered vitamins, but are known today to be other chemicals that do not qualify as vitamins.
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, is a very important part of converting the food we eat into useful energy for our bodies. By combining with other chemical substances in the body, it forms an enzyme necessary to change complex carbohydrates into glucose, the simplest energy source for our bodies. It also promotes healthy nerve function. Sufficient amounts of vitamin B1 also prevent the painful, debilitating disease of beriberi.
Vitamins B2 and B3
Riboflavin, the chemical name for vitamin B2, and vitamin B3, better known as niacin, do many of the same things for our bodies. Like B1, they are ingredients in the metabolism of our food. They also help with the upkeep of our mucus membranes (mouth, nose, stomach, etc) and eyes. Another important job of vitamins B2 and B3 is to prevent dangerous oxidizing activity in the body, which damages cells and causes cancer.
Vitamins B6 and B9
Besides helping with our metabolism, vitamin B6, pyridoxine, and vitamin B9, folic acid, keep our blood healthy by assisting with the production of red blood cells and maintaining proper levels of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is necessary for the blood to carry oxygen throughout the body. Vitamin B9 is also an ingredient in the production of DNA, the "blueprint" for every cell in the body.
Vitamins B5 and B7
These two vitamins, pantothenic acid and biotin, respectively, are often used in conjunction with each other in the body. They are necessary for the proper absorption of nutrients and the synthesis of coenzyme A, which is used for energy production. In addition, they are important for the health of our skin, hair and nails.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12, which sports the tongue-twisting name of cyanocobalamin, is, like most B vitamins, necessary for metabolism. Along with folic acid, it makes and repairs DNA. Another important function is to maintain the health of the nervous system.
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