[Fine Chemicals] What are the functions of B vitamins?
The B vitamins most easily deficient, and what happens when you lack them:
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is an important component of the co-carboxylase in carbohydrate metabolism. It mainly maintains normal carbohydrate metabolism, can boost appetite, and keeps nerve activity normal. Deficiency: when B1 intake is insufficient, mild cases show muscle weakness, apathy, and reduced appetite; severe cases get beriberi. It mainly affects the nervous system, cardiovascular system, and causes edema and serous exudation. Clinically, the nerve-dominant type is called dry beriberi, the edema-and-heart-symptom-dominant type is called wet beriberi, and the type dominated by acute heart lesions is called beriberi heart disease. Severe cases can cause heart dysfunction, heart failure, and mental disturbance.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) participates in biological oxidation and energy production in the body. It takes part in redox reactions and energy generation, in the conversion of tryptophan to niacin and of B2 to pyridoxal phosphate, and in the body's antioxidant defense system, improving the body's ability to adapt to environmental stress. Deficiency: can cause metabolic disorders, showing as cheilitis, angular stomatitis, glossitis, scrotal dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and so on. Riboflavin deficiency affects the metabolism of B6 and niacin. Because riboflavin deficiency affects iron absorption, secondary iron-deficiency anemia is common.
Vitamin B3 (niacin), also called vitamin PP, formula C6H5NO2, is heat-resistant and can sublime. Niacin is also known as nicotinic acid or the pellagra-preventive factor. In the human body it also includes its derivatives nicotinamide or nicotinamide. It is one of the 13 essential vitamins, a water-soluble vitamin belonging to the B group. Niacin is converted in the body to nicotinamide, which is part of coenzyme I and coenzyme II and participates in lipid metabolism, the oxidation process of tissue respiration, and the anaerobic breakdown of carbohydrates.
Vitamin B5 (d-calcium pantothenate) is a white powder; odorless, slightly bitter; hygroscopic; its aqueous solution is neutral or weakly alkaline. Easily soluble in water, very slightly soluble in ethanol, almost insoluble in chloroform or ether. It has the function of making antibodies and also plays an important role in maintaining the health of hair, skin, and blood.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a coenzyme for many enzyme systems in the body, participating in amino acid decarboxylation, transamination, tryptophan synthesis, metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids, formation of aminolevulinic acid, and metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids. It helps release energy from sugar units in the liver and muscles, participates in niacin formation, amino acid transport, and so on. It also suppresses vomiting and promotes development. Deficiency: causes vomiting, cramps, and other symptoms. Pure B6 deficiency is relatively rare and usually comes with insufficient intake of multiple B vitamins; clinically there are stomatitis, chapped lips, glossitis, irritability, depression, and other symptoms.
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), also called cobalamin, is the only metal-containing vitamin in the human body. It participates in one-carbon unit metabolism in the body in the form of a coenzyme. By increasing the utilization of folic acid, it affects the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, thereby promoting the development and maturation of red blood cells. B12 also participates in choline synthesis; lack of choline affects fat metabolism and produces fatty liver. Deficiency: causes megaloblastic anemia, nervous system damage, and hyperhomocysteinemia.
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