Vitamin B: Meet the B team, Deficiency, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding

The band of vitamins which make up the B group have a heavy workload in the human body from the moment of conception onwards. And they’re a crucial part of all children’s diets because of the role they play in growth and development.

As a group, the B vitamins are necessary for the brain and nervous system to work properly, and for the metabolising of carbohydrates, fats and proteins essential for growth. They are also involved in maintaining the health of the hair, skin, nerves, blood cells, immune system, hormone-producing glands and digestive system.

The B group, a complex of eight water-soluble vitamins, likes to work as a team in the human body so getting the right ratio of each B vitamin is fairly important.


MEET THE B TEAM

B1 – Thiamine
This vitamin plays a crucial part in converting sugar and carbohydrate into energy as well as being important for growth and normal function of the nervous system and heart.
Sources: meat, whole grains, fish and nuts

B2 – Riboflavin
Essential for converting carbohydrate as well as protein and fat into energy, riboflavin is also important for growth and contributes to the normal structure of mucous membranes such as the surface of the tongue, mouth, eyes and intestines.
Sources: meat, dairy products and fortified grains

B3 – Niacin
Niacin is important for releasing energy from food and normal function of the nervous system. Like riboflavin, it is necessary for normal function and structure of skin and mucous membranes.
Sources: meat, fish, pulses and whole grains

B6
Vitamin B6 performs a wide variety of functions, among them it’s essential for red blood cell metabolism and keeping the nervous and immune systems functioning efficiently.
Sources: meat, fish, eggs, milk and whole grains, bananas and avocadoes

Folic acid (folate)
This is required for formation of red blood cells. It is essential for growth as it helps to produce DNA, the body's master plan for cell reproduction. As such, during pregnancy, folate is one of the most important nutrients for foetal growth and development.
Sources: liver, pulses and dark green leafy vegetables

B12
This vitamin’s essential role is releasing energy from food and metabolising amino and fatty acids. It also plays a role in keeping skin and hair healthy.
Sources: meat, liver, fish, eggs and dairy products.


BEING VITAMIN B DEFICIENT

B vitamin deficiencies cause a variety of disorders ranging from the severe but uncommon deficiency disease, beriberi, through to the more common conditions, dermatitis and anaemia.

Interestingly, research has found that B vitamin deficiencies are often found in psychiatric patients and may contribute to depression and other symptoms.

VITAMIN B AND MAKING BABIES

Shortly before conception and in the first trimester at least, folate is vital – and the body needs a lot to make new cells.

It’s now known that having plenty of folate just before and during the early months of pregnancy can reduce the risk of a group of abnormalities called neural tube defects in your baby.

As it can be hard to get sufficient from our diet alone, it is recommended that women take a folate supplement.

Meanwhile, vitamin B6 has been linked with reducing morning sickness in some women.

BREASTFEEDING AND THE B GROUP

The Vitamin B group is all-important for breastfeeding mums because it helps provide energy and is associated with relieving stress. And the most important B vitamin as far as your nursing baby is concerned is B12.

Vitamin B12 is essential for your baby’s brain development. If you are a vegetarian and you do not have at least four serves daily of eggs, dairy foods or Vitamin B12-fortified soy products, you will need to take a Vitamin B12 supplement while you are breastfeeding. Source.

AVAILABLE SUPPLEMENT FROM SHAKLEE

Shaklee B-Complex
B Vitamins with Folic Acid