Vitamin B Complex

In a marketplace where the next hot supplement is only months away from media stardom, often the longer-known ones get overlooked. Vitamins are a great example of this. While people get excited about the mood-enhancing effects of St. John's Wort, almost no attention is paid to the B-complex of vitamins, three of which can have equally profound effects on the mood. The benefits of vitamins are not news, but we need them as surely as we need air to breath and water to drink. Make no mistake, a good supplement regimen starts with adequate vitamin intake.


The B-complex vitamins are a group of similarly structured compounds, which is why we refer to them as a "complex". This complex of chemicals consists of B1 (thiamine), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3 (niacin), B-5 (pantothenic acid), B-6 (pyridoxine), B-7 (biotin), B-12 (cobalamin), and folic acid (folate or folacin). PABA, inositol and choline are often included in this group. The B-complex of vitamins are used in the proper formation of every cell in your body - particularly nerve cells. This is why it is so important for pregnant women to get their B's (especially folic acid) and why a deficiency in certain of the B's manifests itself first as low mood or moodiness. Extreme B deficiency can cause muscular weakness and edema; this is known as beriberi. As is typical in the US, extreme deficiencies are rare.


In the cover story of the August 11, 1997, issue of Newsweek was the following statement that the Attorney General should mail to every single person: "An avalanche of new studies suggest that an amino acid called homocysteine plays a critical role in destroying our arteries--perhaps as large a role as smoking or cholesterol."

Homocysteine is as large a risk factor in heart disease as smoking or cholesterol, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk, and you probably haven't heard of it! According to Dr. Kilmer McCully, pathologist at the VA Medical Center in Providence, RI, the initial injury to our arteries--that leads to the potentially deadly build-up of atherosclerotic plaque--is caused by homocysteine. This initial injury is what makes the vessels vulnerable to LDL cholesterol.


First, you need to know that your body needs homocysteine. It is used to build and maintain tissue. Homocysteine is not bad. It is the build-up of homocysteine that is bad. The problem occurs when there is a deficiency of Vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid. These 3 vitamins should normally sweep this excess of homocysteine away. But when you don't have enough of these B Vitamins, you have a problem. And, folic acid deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, so there is a good chance that the average person is allowing a toxic build-up of homocysteine.

Because they are methyl donors, the B-complex also helps to reduce the build-up of homocysteine, making it an excellent heart-health supplement. It is well established that a person's measure of blood plasma homocysteine acts as a biochemical marker inversely indicating folate levels.¹ When a person's blood plasma folate levels are high, their homocysteine levels are low. As folate levels decrease, homocysteine levels increase along with an increased chance for heart disease.^2,3 Please note that people who supplement with a multi or other vitamin containing folate rarely have inadequate amounts of folate. Folate reduces homocysteine.


While the B vitamins are found in foods, some are lost in cooking and excess of one B can result in a depletion of another. This is one vitamin we suggest taking as a complete supplement.


Vitamin B-12 and Folic Acid Formula is designed to provide a to increase serum B12 and folate levels in the body. Lower levels of B12 and folate are associated with elevated homocysteine levels, low mood and energy levels, chronic fatigue syndrome and neurological disorders. B12 and folate are essential to general health for cell reproduction and DNA production. Folic Acid deficiency is correlated to an increased risk of heart attacks in men.

Our sublingual (under the tongue) tablets rapidly increase B12 and folate blood levels through absorption through the tissues and blood vessels under the tongue. Studies have indicated that this method may be as effective as intramuscular injections.

People with a known B12 deficiency, a family history of heart disease or who have other risk factors for heart disease, need a natural mood and energy elevation, suffer from chronic fatigue, have certain types of anemia or follow a strict vegetarian or vegan diet.