Vitamin B Complex is the name given to a large group of vitamins that function as co-enzymes also known as "the B vitamins".
They are water soluble and include the following vitamins: thiamine (vitamin B-1), riboflavin (vitamin B-2 and vitamin G), niacin (vitamin B-3 and vitamin P or vitamin PP), pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5), pyridoxine and pyridoxamine (vitamin B-6), biotin (vitamin B-7 and vitamin H), folic acid (vitamin B-9 and vitamin M) cyanocobalamin (vitamin B-12).
Among several other substances also considered as part of the Vitamin B Complex which are not human vitamins we can find adenine (vitamin B-4), vitamin I (vitamin B-7), ergadenylic acid (vitamin B-8), pteroylmonoglutamic acid mixed with other B vitamins vitamin (B-10 and vitamin R), vitamin S (vitamin B-11), pyrimidinecarboxylic acid or orotic acid (vitamin B-13), vitamin B-14 (compose by a mixture of B-10 and B-11), pangamic acid (vitamin B-15), vitamin B-16, Amygdalin (vitamin B-17), vitamin B-22, vitamin B-C (another name given to vitamin B-9), inositol (vitamin B-H), L-carnitine (vitamin B-T), vitamin B-W (another name for vitamin B-7), para-aminobenzoic acid (vitamin B-X and PABA)
Originally it was thought that vitamin B was a single vitamin but later it was separated into a group of 8 individual vitamins, and the addition with those several B vitamins mentioned above.
Thiamin was isolated and characterized in the early 1920's and was one of the first organic compounds recognized as a vitamin, receiving the name of vitamin B-1. Another source states it was isolated by Polish chemist, Casimir Funk in 1912, who derived its name from a combination of the words vital and amine, referencing the vital function of thiamine.
In fact, although each vitamin has its specific function, all in conjunction are helpful to combat most symptoms and causes of depression, stress, coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular disease.
Vitamin B Complex can co-exist in the same foods and work together to bolster metabolism enhancing immune and nervous system function, as well as maintaining healthy skin, muscle tone, and promoting cell growth and division, including that of red blood cells necessary to prevent anemia. All B vitamins are water soluble and easily dispersed throughout the body.
Most vitamins of the Vitamin B Complex must be replenished every day with any excess excreted in the urine. Because there is very little B vitamins stored in the body, depletion can occur as quickly within 14 days.
There is also a long list of medications and conditions linked to depletion of the body's B vitamins, including alcoholism, oral estrogens and birth control pills, diuretics, barbiturates, aminoglycosides, anti-epileptic and asthma-related drugs, tuberculosis drugs and anti-fibrotic drugs.
The increased consumption of refined foods in most countries around the world has decreased the amounts of vitamins present in the individual's daily diet, although small amounts of B vitamins are regularly added to some food products, such as cereals, milk shakes, etc.
Among the foods rich in Vitamin B Complex are leafy green vegetables and whole-grain cereals, rice, milk, eggs, liver, meats, fish, fruits, nuts, brewer's yeast, and many other, including Aloe Vera extracts, claiming to have those not so common such as vitamin B-22.
Deficiencies of B vitamins were described in Chinese texts dating as early as 2600 BC related to thiamine (vitamin B-1) deficiency known since then as "beriberi", a disease divided into three subtypes: dry beriberi, wet beriberi and cerebral beriberi. The dry form refers to neuromuscular complications including peripheral neuropathy and weakness, the wet is linked to heart failure and cardiovascular complications such as heart failure, while the cerebral form refers to brain central nervous system complications such as abnormal eye movements, gait abnormalities and mental dysfunction (Wernicke's encephalopathy) or Korsakoff's psychosis characterized by apathy,
Vitamin B Complex is needed for release of energy and essential for normal growth and development. It also is needed to maintain healthy skin, eyes and hair, as well as stomach acidity, normal appetite and the health of the digestive tract.