B Vitamins are well known for their benefits for energy, which is the reason most people take them, but as time goes on, more and more research is appearing about the many varied benefits of B vitamins for a host of different issues.
Different B vitamins have benefits for an assortment of health issues, but in general, B vitamins do work best when taken together, since they’re closely related. I’ll list some of the more surprising benefits of B vitamin research below:
B1 (thiamine) helps to protect the body from nerve damage and can help to prevent neuropathy. High doses of B1 may also work as a natural insect repellent, since it changes the way that you smell to mosquitoes.
Niacin (vitamin B3) can help with increased repair of DNA, something that is beneficial for neurodegenerative diseases among others. Niacin can also help with lowering cholesterol and low levels have even been linked to erectile dysfunction.
B6, especially when taken as the form known as P-5-P (the active form of B6) can help with nerve problems like carpal tunnel and sciatica.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is especially common among the elderly, and one of the ways a B12 deficiency can manifest itself in older adults is with confusion, memory loss, and slowed motor skills. Low B12 levels can even cause lower brain volume which has been linked with dementia.
B12 deficiency can cause other brain problems like depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. B12 has also been shown to reduce the risk of fractures among older adults.
I’ve only listed a few of the unique benefits of some of the different B vitamins, but there are many, many more, which makes it smart to supplement with a B complex vitamin to ensure you’re getting the necessary amounts of each.
There are many forms of B vitamins, and while the standard forms commonly found in multivitamins or a regular B complex are good, there are new, coenzymated forms of B complexes, like Jarrow Formula’s B-Right which offer superior absorption. Choosing a coenzymated B complex ensures that you are getting the best form possible of each vitamin.
A regular B complex isn’t bad; it’s just a matter of choosing “good” vs. “best”.
Jarrow’s B-Right will be on sale at Pass Health Foods for the month of May for 25% off.
