What are the functions of various B vitamins?🔢🔢🔢

There are many kinds of vitamin B, such as vitamin B1, B2, B6, and B12. They all work in different ways and can relieve many different symptoms. They will be introduced one by one below.

1. Vitamin B1：Alcoholics should supplement in appropriate amounts.

Vitamin B1 is also called thiamine. Long-term alcohol consumption can cause vitamin B1 deficiency. Beriberi is another name for vitamin B1 deficiency. Its early symptoms include fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, muscle aches, etc. As the condition worsens, patients may develop edema, heart failure, peripheral neuropathy, and Wernicke's encephalopathy. 

Recommended supplementary foods: cereals, egg yolks, lean meat, milk, tomatoes, etc.

Vitamin B1 supplement: Vitamin B1 tablets are used to prevent and treat vitamin B1 deficiency, such as beriberi complicated with neuritis or indigestion. Adults take it orally three times a day, 10 to 20 mg each time.

2. Vitamin B2: Patients with angular stomatitis or chapped lips can supplement it in appropriate amounts.

Vitamin B2 is also called riboflavin. It has a close relationship with protein metabolism. Lack of vitamin B2 reduces the activity of lysyl oxidase, which affects the formation of collagen cross-links. It is considered to be a major cause of skin damage. Symptoms of vitamin B2 deficiency will first appear on the skin. The most common clinical manifestations are pale mucous membranes and ulcers at the corners of the mouth (angular stomatitis), cinnabar-red lips (cheilosis), and scrotal inflammation.

Recommended supplementary foods: animal liver, animal kidney, eggs, milk, soybeans, etc.

Vitamin B2 supplement: Vitamin B2 tablets are used to prevent and treat vitamin B2 deficiency, such as angular stomatitis, chapped lips, conjunctivitis, glossitis, scrotumitis, seborrheic dermatitis, etc. Adults take it orally 3 times a day, 5 to 10 mg each time. It is recommended to be taken after meals. After taking vitamin B2 tablets, the urine will turn yellow, which is a normal reaction.

3. Vitamin B3: Patients with pellagra can supplement it in appropriate amounts.

Niacin plays an important role in maintaining normal tissue, especially the integrity of the digestive tract, nervous system, and skin. Niacin deficiency is also known as pellagra. The clinical manifestations of pellagra are dementia, dermatitis, diarrhea and death. Dermatitis is its most typical symptom, usually appearing on exposed parts of the limbs and appearing symmetrically. It is manifested as a diffuse pigmented rash.

Recommended supplementary foods: animal liver, animal kidney, fish, meat, peanuts, soybeans, etc.

Niacin supplement: Niacin tablets are used to prevent and treat niacin deficiency disorders such as pellagra. Adults take it orally 5 times a day, 50 to 100 mg each time. It is not advisable to take more than 500 mg a day. Common adverse reactions include headache, skin redness (especially on the face and neck) and other vasodilation reactions. Taking large doses of niacin may cause arrhythmia, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, and liver toxicity.

4. Vitamin B6: Patients with seborrheic dermatitis can supplement it in appropriate amounts.

Vitamin B6 is involved in the metabolism of neurotransmitters and all amino acids. Patients lacking vitamin B6 will mainly suffer from skin and mucosal inflammation, including glossitis, stomatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and desquamative dermatitis. In addition, some patients may develop mental and neurological symptoms such as peripheral neuritis and depression.

Recommended supplementary foods: lean meat, liver, vegetables, etc.

Vitamin B6 supplement: Vitamin B6 tablets can be used to prevent and treat vitamin B6 deficiency such as chapped lips and seborrheic dermatitis. It can also be used to relieve pregnancy vomiting. Adults take 10 to 20 mg orally daily for three weeks. Long-term or excessive use of vitamin B6 may cause severe peripheral neuritis. Patients may experience abnormal nerve sensations, unsteady gait, and numbness in their hands and feet. Therefore, patients must take the recommended dosage, do not take excessive amounts, and should stop taking the medicine after 3 weeks.

5. Folic acid: Women preparing for pregnancy can supplement it in appropriate amounts.

Folic acid is also called vitamin B9, vitamin M or vitamin B11. Folic acid is an essential component for the synthesis of DNA and RNA. It participates in various metabolic links in the human body. It is an essential substance for the growth and reproduction of body cells. It is also involved in the maturation of red blood cells. Folic acid is also required for the development of the fetal nervous system.

Recommended supplementary foods: Animal liver, fruits, green vegetables, etc.

Folic acid supplement: Folic acid tablets are mainly used as supplements for pregnant and lactating women. It prevents congenital neural tube defects in fetuses. Women of childbearing age should take 0.4 mg orally once a day from the time of planning pregnancy to the end of the third month after pregnancy. Folic acid can turn urine yellow when taken in large amounts.

6. Vitamin B12: Patients with peripheral neuropathy can supplement it in appropriate amounts.

Vitamin B12 is also called cobalamin. It is the only vitamin that contains metallic elements. Vitamin B12 can increase the bioavailability of folic acid, thereby promoting the synthesis of DNA and nucleic acids. It is also an essential component required for the synthesis of nerve myelin lipoproteins. Patients lacking vitamin B12 may develop megaloblastic anemia and peripheral neuropathy. Methylcobalamin is the active form of vitamin B12 in the body.

Recommended supplementary foods: Dairy products, meat, eggs, fish, etc.

Vitamin B12 supplement: Methylcobalamin tablets are used to treat peripheral neuropathy and megaloblastic anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. Adults take 0.5 mg orally three times a day. Methylcobalamin is easily decomposed by light. Therefore, it should be used immediately after opening and should be protected from light. In addition, when used to treat peripheral neuropathy, if taking it for more than one month is ineffective, there is no need to continue taking it.

7. Other Vitamin B:

• Vitamin B4: It can be used to prevent and treat acute granulocytopenia and leukopenia caused by various causes (especially caused by tumor chemotherapy and radiotherapy and benzene poisoning).

• Vitamin B5: It is also called pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid deficiency is rare in humans because pantothenic acid is widely present in food.

• Vitamin B7: It is also known as biotin or vitamin H. Biotin comes from a wide range of sources. Human intestinal bacteria can also synthesize it. Therefore, biotin deficiency rarely occurs. However, raw egg whites contain proteins that resist biotin, so long-term use of large amounts of raw egg whites may lead to biotin deficiency.

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What diseases can vitamin B6 be used for?😵😵😵

In 1926, it was discovered that a lack of a vitamin in mice's diet caused them to induce pellagra. In 1934, a doctor discovered an ingredient that had therapeutic effects on dermatitis in mice and named it vitamin B6. It wasn't until around 1938-1939 that vitamin B6 could be isolated and synthesized. It is a water-soluble vitamin. Pyridoxamine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxine are the three forms of vitamin B6 found in food. The three of them can be transformed into each other. Since pyridoxine is photosensitizing, it gradually breaks down when exposed to light. There are many foods that contain vitamin B6. Meat, whole grain products (especially wheat), nuts and vegetables are rich in vitamin B6.

Pharmacological mechanism of action of vitamin B6.

Vitamin B6 is converted to pyridoxal phosphate in red blood cells. It is a coenzyme and plays a role in the synthesis or metabolism of some neuromediators, nucleic acids, DNA, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, lipids and proteins. In addition, it is also involved in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine. It also plays a role in the metabolism of sphingomyelin, steroids and glycogen.

Clinical application of vitamin B6.

1. Dermatology.

In dermatology, the clinical application of vitamin B6 is very extensive. When the human body lacks vitamin B6, seborrheic-like damage will appear in the eyes, nose and corners of the mouth. Patients also have stomatitis, glossitis, eczema or acne. Therefore, vitamin B6 is often used in the treatment of alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, acne, cheilitis, stomatitis, folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and the like. Vitamin B6 is also used as adjunctive therapy for lupus erythematosus and vitiligo.

2. Neurology.

Peripheral neuritis is the clinical manifestation of vitamin B6 deficiency in the nervous system. It is accompanied by tenderness and swelling of synovial fluid (especially in the wrist). Convulsions, restlessness, excitement and vomiting are also clinical manifestations of vitamin B6 deficiency. Therefore, vitamin B6 is used in the adjuvant treatment of autism, epilepsy, drug-induced neuritis, peripheral neuritis, facial neuritis, cognitive impairment, tic disorder, tardive dyskinesia, hand-foot syndrome, and limb numbness. In addition, studies have pointed out that increasing the intake of vitamin B6 in the daily diet can help reduce the incidence of Parkinson's disease. This is because brain cells can be protected from damage by harmful substances such as free radicals by vitamin B6.

3. Gynecology.

For vomiting of pregnancy, vitamin B6 can play a role in reducing. The FDA approved the combined use of 75mg of vitamin B6, 12ug of vitamin B12, 1mg of folic acid, and 200mg of calcium to treat nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Although efficacy is unclear, 50 to 100 mg of vitamin B6 daily can be used for premenstrual syndrome. However, daily use of more than 100 mg of vitamin B6 has not been shown to provide additional benefits and may also increase the risk of adverse effects. In addition, because vitamin B6 can pass through the placenta of pregnant women, if a woman takes a large amount of vitamin B6 during pregnancy, it can cause vitamin B6 dependence syndrome in newborns.

4. Cardiology.

Patients are at increased risk of dementia and stroke due to hyperhomocysteinemia. The use of 50 to 200 mg of vitamin B6 daily alone or in combination with 100 mg of vitamin B6, 1 mg of folic acid, and 1500 μg of vitamin B12 daily can reduce the level of hyperhomocysteinemia. However, long-term daily use of more than 1 mg of folic acid may increase the risk of cancers such as prostate and colorectal cancer.

5. Urology.

The most common type of urinary stones are calcium oxalate stones. Because vitamin B6 can reduce the production of oxalic acid, it can be used clinically for the prevention and treatment of urinary calculi.

6. Oncology.

Studies have pointed out that a lack of vitamin B6 may increase the risk of cancer. Although not confirmed by research, some experts believe that increasing the intake of vitamin B6 in the daily diet can reduce the risk of cancers such as esophageal, breast, stomach, pancreatic and colorectal cancers. In addition, high-dose vitamin B6 is also commonly used clinically to prevent hand-foot syndrome caused by capecitabine (an antineoplastic drug).

7. Other.

Neonatal hereditary vitamin B6-dependent syndrome, hereditary sideroblastic anemia, leukopenia, vascular restenosis, primary urinary hyperoxalate, metabolic disorders (eg, homocystinuria and cystathione) etheruria), anti-tremor paralysis, cerebral dysfunction syndrome, etc. can also use vitamin B6 as adjuvant therapy.

Adverse effects of vitamin B6.

Peripheral neuropathy such as limb numbness is the main adverse reaction of long-term or high-dose vitamin B6. It is manifested by an unsteady gait. Patients first experience numbness in the feet, then numbness in the hands, followed by severe impairment of vibration and distal position sensation in the extremities. It generally has less effect on pain, touch and temperature. Symptoms generally disappear when vitamin B6 is stopped. However, some patients on high doses of vitamin B6 experience irreversible symptoms. The patient's own disease and the adverse reactions of vitamin B6 are easily confused. Clinical use of vitamin B6 (especially when used in high doses) should closely monitor patients. Drowsiness, headache, nausea, and paresthesia are also common adverse effects of vitamin B6. In severe cases, it can also damage the function of organs. Anaphylactic shock may also occur in patients with intravenous use. In general, regular doses of vitamin B6 are relatively safe. However, long-term or high-dose use should pay attention to the occurrence of adverse reactions.

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You should know these things about vitamin B6.👌👌

Vitamin B6 is one of the most widely used vitamin B drugs. What diseases can vitamin B6 be used for prevention and cure? How should vitamin B6 be used? Are there any side effects of vitamin B6? You should know the answers to these questions.👍

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

What diseases can vitamin B6 be used for?

Vitamin B6 is an important coenzyme in the metabolic transformation of certain amino acids, such as glutamic acid, tryptophan, methionine and dopa.

• Vitamin B6 deficiency: This may be due to excessive processing of food and resulting in the loss of vitamin B6. It can manifest as chapped lips, glossitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and pellagra. It can manifest as chapped lips, glossitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and pellagra. It can be used daily 10-20mg of vitamin B6 for 3 weeks.
• Peripheral neuritis caused by isoniazid: The intermediate metabolite of isoniazid (isoniazone) forms soluble complexes with vitamin B6. This increases the excretion of vitamin B6 by the kidneys. The preventive dose is 10-50 mg of vitamin B6 daily. In the case of isoniazid poisoning, 1000 mg of vitamin B6 (intravenous or intramuscular injection) should be given for every 1000 mg of isoniazid. A daily dose of isoniazid ≤ 5 mg/kg rarely causes vitamin B6 deficiency.
• Hyperhomocysteinemia: Monotherapy is vitamin B6 50-200 mg daily. Combination therapy was vitamin B6 100 mg and folic acid 0.5 mg daily.

In addition, some drugs can also cause vitamin B6 deficiency.

• Antitumor drugs: cytarabine, doxorubicin, docetaxel, lapatinib, capecitabine, etc.
• Immunosuppressants: hormones, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, etc.
• Antihypertensive drugs: Hydralazine.
• Antituberculosis drugs: isoniazid, cycloserine.
• Other drugs: Contraceptives and anticonvulsants.

Vitamin B6 cannot be combined with levodopa. It is mainly because vitamin B6 promotes the peripheral conversion of levodopa to dopamine. It reduces the effects of levodopa. However, vitamin B6 can be used in combination with levodopa + benserazide or levodopa + carbidopa. It is mainly because decarboxylase inhibitors (benserazide, carbidopa) reduce the effects of vitamin B6.

Diseases that should not be treated with high doses of vitamin B6.

Vitamin B6 has not proven effective for the following conditions, such as acne and other skin diseases, alcoholism, asthma, kidney stones, mental illness, migraine, premenstrual tension, stimulation of milk secretion, loss of appetite. It is not appropriate to use large doses of vitamin B6 to treat the above-mentioned unproven effective diseases.

Vitamin B6 can cause neurotoxicity.

Vitamin B6 is a pyridine substance. These substances have obvious neurotoxicity. Long-term, excessive use of vitamin B6 can cause peripheral neuritis, abnormal nerve paresthesia, gait instability, numbness of hands and feet, etc. The recommended dosage of vitamin B6 tablets is 10-20 mg per day for adults. It must be taken at the recommended dose. Do not overdose and stop taking the drug after 3 weeks.

Physicians should exercise caution when using vitamin B6 to treat vomiting of pregnancy.

Vitamin B6 has been widely used for vomiting during pregnancy. The recommended usage is oral vitamin B6 3-4 times a day, 10-25mg each time. However, pregnant women receiving large amounts of vitamin B6 can cause vitamin B6-dependent syndrome in newborns. Pregnant women must use it under the guidance of a doctor and do not take it without authorization. The drug should also be discontinued after 3 weeks of treatment. Vitamin B6-dependent syndrome is an inborn structural and functional defect of the metabolic enzyme kynurenase. The activity of that enzyme is only 1% of normal. Vitamin B6 includes six interconvertible pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, pyridoxal and their respective 5-phosphates. Pyridoxal 5-phosphate is an important part of this group. It participates in the metabolism of amino acids, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and glycogen in vivo as a coenzyme of the enzyme system in decarboxylation and transamination. If it is lacking, it can cause convulsions and peripheral nerve disorders. Therefore, vitamin B6 deficiency can cause biochemical and physiological abnormalities. The need for vitamin B6 in children with this disease is 5 to 10 times that of normal children. A lack of vitamin B6 in the diet during pregnancy can cause seizures in newborns. In addition, because pregnant mothers take excessive doses of vitamin B6 during the pregnancy reaction period. It may also cause the baby to still need to rely on a larger amount of vitamin B6 after birth.

Storage of vitamin B6.

Vitamin B6 is easily soluble in water and gradually deteriorates when exposed to light. Therefore, it requires shading and sealed storage.

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Vitamin D may be good for heart health.💖💖💖

After the human body is irradiated by ultraviolet rays in the sun, the skin cansynthesize an essential vitamin-vitamin D. Many people know that vitamin D is good for bones. However, recent studies have pointed out that when vitamin D is deficient, not only bone health may be affected, but also heart health. Researchers at the University of South Australia discovered genetic evidence for the first time. It proves that vitamin D deficiency can cause cardiovascular disease. People with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to develop heart disease and high blood pressure than those with normal levels of vitamin D. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of human deaths worldwide. It is estimated to cause more than 15 million deaths each year. At the same time, cardiovascular diseases also cause huge economic losses to countries around the world. Understanding the causes of cardiovascular disease can effectively prevent it and reduce economic losses. 

For people who do not often do outdoor activities, it is easy to cause vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency is actually very common. Data from the United Kingdom showed that 55% of the participants had low levels of vitamin D (<50nmol/L), and 13% had severe vitamin D deficiency (<25nmol/L). Statistics show that 37% of Canadians, 23% of Australians and 24% of Americans have had low vitamin D levels. Especially for the elderly, since they may take less outdoor activities, they do not have enough time to be exposed to the sun. This prevents them from getting enough vitamin D. Although food also contains vitamin D, such as oily fish and eggs, the content of vitamin D in food is relatively low. Therefore, even through a balanced diet, there is generally not enough vitamin D. If we cannot get enough vitamin D through sunlight, we need to take supplements every day to achieve the demand. 

Vitamin D can affects cardiovascular health.

The results of the study show that if they can increase the level of vitamin D within the normal range, it should also affect the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Among the population participating in the study, individuals with vitamin D deficiency increased their vitamin D levels to at least 50 nmol/L, which is estimated to prevent 4.4% of cardiovascular disease cases. Researchers evaluated how increasing the levels of vitamin D affect cardiovascular disease risk based on how high the participants' actual the levels of vitamin D were. The study used data from nearly 300,000 people. This allows the study to provide strong statistical evidence for the link between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease. People with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to develop heart disease and high blood pressure than those with normal levels of vitamin D. For participants with the lowest levels of vitamin D, the risk of heart disease was more than twice that of those with sufficient vitamin D. The research leader thinks, "It is unethical to recruit patients with vitamin D deficiency to participate in randomized controlled trials and keep them from receiving treatment for a long time. But it is this method that can show how increasing the concentration can affect the risk of those who need it most, and don't let participants suffer any harm." Non-linear Mendelian randomization analysis supports the L-type association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and cardiovascular disease risk. This shows that the cardiovascular health benefits of improving vitamin D status are the strongest for those in the vitamin D deficiency range. Vitamin D supplementation may have the strongest effect on those with the lowest levels of vitamin D. The methods to eliminate vitamin D deficiency within the population can reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease. 

Non-linear Mendelian randomization analyses support a role for vitamin D deficiency in cardiovascular disease risk.

If you want to know more detail, you can read this article.👇

Ang Zhou, Joseph B Selvanayagam, Elina Hyppönen, Non-linear Mendelian randomization analyses support a role for vitamin D deficiency in cardiovascular disease risk, European Heart Journal, 2021;, ehab809, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehab809

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Vitamin B12 deficiency may increase the risk of depression.😣😣😣

Depression is the most common type of mental illness. It is characterized by continuous and long-term depression and is the most important type of mental illness in modern people. Recently, a longitudinal study in the Ireland found that vitamin B12 deficiency can increase the risk of depression. The study investigated the relationship between the levels of folic acid and vitamin B1 levels in the elderly and depression. Research results show that the low levels of vitamin B12 are related to depression symptoms, but the levels of folic acid are not significantly related to depression. The research results provide relevant information for the elderly and public health to better understand how to identify risks and take protective measures to improve health outcomes for people 50 years and older.

The levels of participant's vitamin B.

Low levels or deficiencies of vitamin B such as folic acid and vitamin B12 are common in the elderly. Studies have pointed out that one-eighth of the local elderly have low levels of vitamin B12. People of all ages have also reported that the dietary intake and blood concentration of vitamin B12 are low. Some of the negative consequences of low vitamin B12 levels may include impaired cognitive function, megaloblastic anemia or damage to the protective layer (myelin sheath) that surrounds the nerve fibers of the brain. It is important to understand the relationship between the low levels of folic acid or vitamin B12 and depression in later life. It is because depression is a risk factor for cognitive decline, hospitalization, and premature death. The study surveyed participants aged 50 years and older. The plasma folic acid and plasma vitamin B12 levels were measured and screened for depression. Researchers have observed that those with low levels of vitamin B12 are 51% more likely to develop depressive symptoms within 4 years.

Research result.

1. The study found that over a four-year period, low levels of vitamin B12 were associated with a significant increase in the risk of depressive symptoms, but no such association was observed with folic acid.
2. Researchers have observed that those with low levels of vitamin B12 are 51% more likely to develop depressive symptoms within 4 years.
3. These findings are still valid even after controlling for related adjustment factors such as physical activity, vitamin D levels, burden of chronic disease, cardiovascular disease and use of antidepressants.
4. Other factors that affect the nutritional status of the elderly include smoking, drug use, obesity, gender, financial ability and place of residence.
5. With age, the risk of depression decreases.
6. In the surveyed elderly population, the incidence of sudden depression is very high, and their level of vitamin B12 is very low.
7. These findings show that the level of these vitamins can be increased by improving the diet and may have potential benefits for preventing depression.

In view of the high incidence of depression among the elderly living in Ireland, especially after there is evidence that one in eight elderly people report a high level of vitamin B12 deficiency, this study is highly relevant. In Europe and the United Kingdom, there is a growing trend for governments to implement food policies to increase vitamin B intake. In particular, the practice of increasing folic acid in food in the United States has shown a positive effect. Among people aged 60 and above, the low levels or deficient folic acid is only 1.2%. Research results indicate that food fortification policies can provide a potential way to help prevent depression in the elderly and benefit overall health through foods such as breakfast cereals rich in vitamin B12 and folic acid. The main advantage of this study is that it is based on a large amount and representative sample of elderly people observed for more than four years. In addition, the researchers examined a group of well-characterized patients and incorporated a series of confounding factors, including lifestyle, chronic diseases, medications, and other nutritional blood biomarkers to reveal strong research results. In view of the increase in loneliness and depression in the elderly since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions. The study emphasizes the importance of increasing vitamin B12 intake or supplement to help reduce potential risk factors for depression in the elderly.

For more detail, you can read this article.👇

Laird, E., O’Halloran, A., Molloy, A., Healy, M., Hernandez, B., O’Connor, D., . . . Briggs, R. (2021). Low vitamin B12 but not folate is associated with incident depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults: A 4 year longitudinal study. British Journal of Nutrition, 1-22. doi:10.1017/S0007114521004748

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Anti-aging function of vitamin B2.👴👵

Previous studies have shown that the accumulation of aging cells in the body can lead to aging-related diseases and aging. Using supplements or drugs containing vitamin B2 can inhibit cell senescence. This may prevent and improve age-related diseases and extend people's healthy lifespan. Recently, researchers from Kobe University in Japan stated that adding vitamin B2 to cells exposed to the stress of aging will increase the ability of mitochondria to produce energy and prevent cell aging.

1. The mechanism of human aging.

Aging research is becoming more and more important to solve the medical and welfare problems that come with it and to help people live healthier lives. The process of body aging is not fully understood, but the aging of the cells that make up the body has been proven to be a factor. As the cell division cycle repeats, the telomere region at the end of each chromosome becomes shorter, which eventually leads to cell senescence. It is the cell loses the ability to divide. The reduction of telomere area is not the only relevant factor. Various types of stress on cells (such as DNA damage and reactive oxygen bursts) can also cause cell senescence. Aging cells caused by these stresses accumulate in the body with age. Aging cells have the harmful ability to cause the decline of the function of every organ in the body. By preventing the accumulation of senescent cells, age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes can be prevented or improved. 

2. The original intention of the research.

Vitamins are micronutrients necessary to maintain the normal functioning of the human body. Since the human body cannot synthesize vitamins, it must be absorbed from food and drinks. Vitamin B2 (also called riboflavin) is widely found in foods such as eggs, meat, and dairy products. It is an important vitamin for energy production and metabolism. Lack of vitamin B2 can cause symptoms such as mouth swelling and anemia. In addition, excessive intake of vitamin B2 generally has no negative effects, because it is a water-soluble vitamin that can be excreted from the body very quickly. Although vitamin B2 is an essential nutrient for maintaining health, its relationship with aging has not been studied. The research team began to study the effect of vitamin B2 on aging, hoping that if daily vitamins can inhibit cell aging, this will help provide low-cost and safe anti-aging drugs.

3. Research methods.

The research team found that by increasing the amount of SLC52A1 produced, the phenomenon of cell aging can be resisted. SLC52A1 is a vitamin B2 transporter. It is responsible for transporting vitamin B2 to the cell. When the production of SLC52A1 increases, even under stress conditions (treatment of human cells with drugs to damage DNA and induce senescence), cellular senescence does not occur immediately. On this basis, the researchers exposed the cells to a stressful environment, and then increased the vitamin B2 content in the culture medium. They found that the ability to resist aging increases with the content of vitamin B2 in the solution. In the cell, vitamin B2 is converted into a substance called flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), which is a coenzyme that promotes the chemical reactions necessary for biological activities (such as energy production). In stressed cells, mitochondrial activity temporarily increases and then decreases in activity leading to senescence. By increasing the content of vitamin B2 in the culture medium, maintaining a high level of stress-mediated mitochondrial activity, this also has anti-aging effects. Studies have found the activity of AMPK enzyme, which can detect energy deficiency in cells, and found that AMPK activity is inhibited by mitochondrial activity. On the contrary, using drugs to inhibit mitochondrial activity will cause AMPK to be activated and send a signal to the p53 (inducing cell senescence) protein to prevent cell division, leading to a state of senescence. The above results indicate that vitamin B2 can increase the mitochondrial activity of stressed cells and prevent aging by inhibiting the functions of AMPK and p53.

Summary: Cells under stress will produce SLC52A1 and increase their absorption of extracellular vitamin B2. Once in the cell, vitamin B2 will be converted into FAD, and increase the production of mitochondrial energy by becoming a coenzyme of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex II. Therefore, AMPK and p53 (inducing cellular senescence) are inactivated, so stress-mediated cellular senescence is suppressed.

👉Vitamin B2 is easily absorbed from food and supplements, and even if it is taken too much, it will be quickly excreted from the body. Therefore, based on the cellular anti-aging properties of vitamin B2, treatment methods for age-related diseases have been developed. This drug is believed to be relatively cheap and safe.

For more detail, you can read this article.👇

Nagano T, Awai Y, Kuwaba S, Osumi T, Mio K, Iwasaki T, Kamada S. Riboflavin transporter SLC52A1, a target of p53, suppresses cellular senescence by activating mitochondrial complex II. Mol Biol Cell. 2021 Nov 1;32(21):br10. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E21-05-0262. Epub 2021 Sep 15. PMID: 34524871.

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Which one is better, milk or yogurt?🐄🐄🐄

Teenagers often drink more milk for physical growth. Milk is rich in nutrients, which is well known. The yogurt is also made from milk, and it can also regulate gastrointestinal digestion. Is yogurt better than milk?

What nutrition does milk contain?

The nutritional content of pure milk is actually very "normal". 

• The protein content of milk is not as good as chicken breast. There are only 3 grams of protein per 100 grams of pure milk, while chicken breast has about 20 grams of protein per 100 grams. 
• The vitamin A content of milk is not as good as that of some animal livers. Each 100 grams of milk contains about 24 micrograms of vitamin A, and the same weight of pig liver contains more than 4000 micrograms. 
• The vitamin C content of milk is not as good as lemon. Every 100 grams of milk contains about 1 mg of vitamin C and lemon contains about 20 mg.
• The potassium content of milk is not as good as that of bananas. Every 100 grams of bananas contains more than 200 mg of potassium, while milk is less than half of it.
• The calcium content of milk is not as good as that of sesame. 

In contrast, milk seems to have very little nutrition. But in fact, the nutrition of milk is very comprehensive. Each 100 grams of milk calories 54 (kcal), carbohydrate 3.4 (g), protein 3 (g), fat 3.2 (g), cholesterol 15 (mg), vitamin A 24 (μg), vitamin C 1 (mg), vitamin E 0.21 (mg), carotene 4.7 (μg), niacin 0.1 (mg),riboflavin 0.73 (mg), thiamine 0.11 (mg), retinol equivalent 2.3 (μg), calcium 104 (mg), iron 0.3 (mg), sodium 37.2 (mg), magnesium 11 (mg), manganese 0.03 (mg), zinc 0.42 (mg), copper 0.02 (mg), potassium 109 (mg), phosphorus 73 (mg), selenium 1.94 (μg). The protein of milk is high-quality protein. It contains all essential amino acids for humans. The calcium content of milk is also sufficient, and the ratio of calcium to phosphorus is also very appropriate. It is one of the best foods for calcium supplementation. Although the vitamin content of milk may not be sufficient, it is quite complete. It also has a variety of trace elements that people need. Moreover, milk is very cheap compared to many nutritious foods.

What nutrition does yogurt contain?

Yogurt is made from fresh milk fermented by lactic acid bacteria. After the milk is fermented into yogurt, the nutrient content will slightly change.

During the fermentation of milk into yogurt, about 20% of the sugar and protein in the milk are broken down into small molecules.

The content of fat in milk is generally 3% to 5%. After fermentation, the fatty acids in yogurt can be increased twice as much as milk, which makes the yogurt easier to digest and absorb. The utilization rate of various nutrients is therefore improved.

In addition to yogurt retains all the nutrients of milk, lactic acid bacteria can also produce more essential vitamins during the fermentation process, such as vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12.

Although the calcium content in milk will not change much after fermentation, the lactic acid produced after fermentation can effectively increase the utilization of calcium and phosphorus in the human. Therefore, the calcium and phosphorus in yogurt are more easily absorbed by the body.

In the process of making yogurt, certain lactic acid bacteria can synthesize vitamin C, which increases the vitamin C in yogurt.

👉Summarize, milk and yogurt can be substituted for each other. Under normal circumstances, you can choose to drink milk or yogurt according to your preferences. But some people need to choose according to their own situation:

Lactose intolerance - drink yogurt

Some people will have symptoms of abdominal discomfort after drinking milk. These people may have lactose intolerance. They cannot absorb the lactose in milk. At this time, lactose enters their intestines, but it cannot be absorbed. Their bodies may have abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. So for such people, the more suitable dairy product is yogurt.

Hyperlipidemia patients - skimmed milk

Although the taste of skimmed milk may be slightly worse, but it contains lower cholesterol content. Therefore, it is very suitable for patients with hyperlipidemia. If you think the taste of skimmed milk is poor, you can actually choose low-fat milk. However, you need to pay attention to the amount of low-fat milk you drink.

Diabetics - pure milk

If diabetic patients do not have lactose intolerance, they can choose to drink pure milk. Pure milk contains lower carbohydrates. However, if diabetic patients have lactose intolerance, pure milk is not the right choice. At this time, it is recommended to choose yogurt, but the yogurt needs to be sugar-free. Patients should also drink in moderation. 

Elderly - Yogurt

The elderly have poor ability to absorb nutrients, so they should choose yogurt that is easier to absorb. The nutrients in yogurt are easier to be absorbed by the body and the calcium supplement effect is relatively good.

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Do you know what exactly functions of vitamin B complex are in the body?💁💁💁

Vitamin B complex can relieve many diseases, but there are many kinds of vitamin B, such as vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 and so on. Which one should you take? Or Did you take a wrong one?

1. Vitamin B1- neuritis and beriberi

Vitamin B1 also known as thiamine. It is one of the important coenzymes required for many kinds of metabolism in the body. The lack of vitamin B1 can cause metabolic disorders of lipids and carbohydrates in the body. The main manifestations of diseases include digestive system diseases, beriberi and so on. Beriberi often shows as peripheral neuropathy, paresthesia, muscle weakness, paralysis of the lower limbs, paralysis, fatigue, lack of appetite and enlarged heart.

Recommended supplementary foods: milk, egg yolks, cereals, lean meats, tomatoes, etc.

2. Vitamin B2 - chapped lips and angular cheilitis

Vitamin B2 also known as riboflavin. It is an important component of two coenzymes involved in protein and amino acids. It can enhance the development and growth of skin, hair and cells. The lack of vitamin B2 first shows in the skin. It can cause angular cheilitis, chapped lips, keratitis, seborrheic dermatitis, conjunctivitis, glossitis, leukopenia and so on.

Recommended supplementary food: soybeans, milk, eggs, animal liver and kidney, etc.

3. Vitamin B3 - pellagra and regulate blood lipids

Vitamin B3 is mostly called niacin. It is a essential component of the coenzyme required in the body and participates in different metabolic activities such as glucose-energy conversion, protein metabolism and glycerol formation in the body. The lack of niacin can manifest loss of appetite, pellagra, dermatitis, diarrhea, anemia, dementia, slow growth and other diseases. Niacin also has a strong blood lipid regulation effect and vasodilator effect. It is also used to treat a variety of cardiovascular diseases, such as hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease. 

Recommended supplementary food: beans, animal offal, etc.

4. Vitamin B5 - celiac disease

Vitamin B5 also known as pantothenic acid. It participates in a variety of metabolisms in the body. It promotes the decomposition of amino acids, sugars and fats. It is also a component of the multi-enzyme complex fatty acid synthase. Because it is widely present in food, pantothenic acid is not easy to lack. Calcium pantothenate is clinically used and can be used to treat celiac disease.

Recommended supplementary food: meat, animal heart and liver, etc.

5. Vitamin B6 - neuritis, vomiting during pregnancy

Vitamin B6 is a coenzyme of a variety of enzymes. It plays an important role in protein metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis. The lack of vitamin B6 can cause glossitis, chapped lips, stomatitis, insomnia, neurological disorders and many other diseases. It can be used to clinically treat a variety of diseases, such as vomiting during pregnancy, neuritis, leukopenia, adjuvant therapy of liver disease.

Recommended supplementary foods: vegetables, meat, nuts, grains, etc.

6. Folic acid - prevention of fetal congenital neurological malformations

Folic acid is also called vitamin B9. It can constitute a variety of coenzymes and participate in different metabolism in the body. It is an important composition of RNA and DNA. It is the nutrients necessary for the reproduction and growth of the body's cells. It can also promotes the generation and maturation of the cells company with vitamin B12. When folic acid is lacking, it can cause megaloblastic anemia. Folic acid can be used to treat megaloblastic anemia, prevent birth defects in newborns,  hypertension with elevated homocysteine and other diseases.

Recommended supplementary foods: animal liver, fruits, green vegetables, etc.

7. Vitamin B12 - peripheral neuropathy

Vitamin B12 also called cobalamin. It is the only vitamin containing metal elements. Vitamin B12 can increase the utilization rate of folic acid. It promotes the formation of DNA and nucleic acid. It is also an indispensable component for the synthesis of nerve myelin lipoprotein. Deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to peripheral neuropathy and megaloblastic anemia.

Recommended supplementary foods: eggs, fish, meat, dairy products, etc.

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What are the manifestations of various vitamin deficiencies and excesses?😵😵😵

Vitamins are a class of organic compounds that are necessary in the process of human life activities. They have three characteristics:

1. Exist in natural foods.

2. The human body generally cannot be synthesized and must be supplied by food.

3. It is neither a raw material for body tissues nor does it provide energy. Its physiological needs are small, but it is indispensable for the human body.

Deficiency or excess of vitamins will have a strong effect on human health.

Name	Origin	Solubility
Vitamin A (Retinol)	Cod liver oil, green vegetables	Fat soluble
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)	Liver, yeast, cereal, meat, soy	Water soluble
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	Liver, yeast, egg, vegetables	Water soluble
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)	Liver, cereal, yeast	Water soluble
Vitamin B5 (Pantoic acid)	Liver, yeast, vegetables, cereal	Water soluble
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)	Liver, yeast, dairy products, egg, cereal	Water soluble
Vitamin B7 (Biotin)	Liver, yeast, cereal	Water soluble
Vitamin B9 (Folic acid)	Liver, vegetable leaf	Water soluble
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamins)	Liver, egg, fish, meat	Water soluble
Choline	Liver, dairy products, soy, yolk	Water soluble
Inositol	Meat	Water soluble
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)	Fruit, fresh vegetables	Water soluble
Vitamin D (Calciferol)	Cod liver oil, yeast, dairy products, yolk	Fat soluble
Vitamin E (Tocopherol)	Liver, vegetable oil, egg, fish	Fat soluble
Vitamin K (Naphthoquinones)	Liver, spinach	Fat soluble

Vitamin deficiency

Vitamins participate in all links in the process of life activitie. It maintains the normal
function of the nervous system, participate in the synthesis and metabolism of protein and fat, participate in the synthesis of various enzymes and antibodies and so on. Vitamin deficiency will seriously affect the normal metabolism of physiological functions and even threaten life.

Causes of vitamin deficiency:

Vitamin A: Night blindness, dry skin, dry cornea and desquamation.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): The oxidation of sugar in the tissue is affected by Vitamin B1. It also has the effect of inhibiting cholinesterase activity. When it is lacking, the enzyme activity is too high. Acetylcholine (one of the neurotransmitters) is destroyed in a large amount and nerve conduction is affected. It can cause slow gastrointestinal peristalsis, reduced secretion in the digestive tract, indigestion, loss of appetite, neuritis, beriberi and growth retardation.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Oral ulcers, glossitis, angular cheilitis, cleft lip, keratitis, dermatitis, etc.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin): It is manifested as neurotrophic disorder. The whole body is weak at first and then symmetrical dermatitis appears on the hands, cheeks, left and right forehead and other exposed parts.

Vitamin B5 (Pantoic acid): Because of its ubiquity, no typical cases of deficiency have been found in the human body.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Causes vomiting, cramps and other symptoms. Since food is rich in vitamin B6 and can also be synthesized by intestinal bacteria, vitamin B6 deficiency rarely occurs.

Vitamin B7 (Biotin): Including eczema, dermatitis, hyperesthesia, atrophic glossitis, fatigue, muscle pain, anorexia, hair loss and mild anemia.

Vitamin B9 (Folic acid): White blood cells are reduced, the volume of red blood cells become larger and giant cell anemia occurs. Neutrophils are abnormal. Human intestinal bacteria can synthesize folic acid, so deficiency diseases are generally less likely to occur. However,  when malabsorption, metabolic disorders or tissue requirements are too high, and long-term use of intestinal antibacterial drugs (such as sulfonamides), etc., can cause folic acid deficiency.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamins): Megaloblastic anemia.

Choline: Abnormal liver function, the liver accumulates a large amount of lipids (mainly triglycerides), which eventually fills the entire liver cells. It also harms kidney function. Genetic damage and mutant cell can form tumors cell survive and proliferate. Infertility, growth retardation, bone abnormalities, hematopoietic disorders and hypertension related to dietary low choline have also been reported.

Inositol: Hair is easy to turn white and eczema.

Vitamin C: Scurvy and decreased resistance.

Vitamin D: Kids: Rickets; Adults: Osteoporosis.

Vitamin E: Infertility, abortion, muscle atrophy, etc.

Vitamin Overdose

Excessive intake of vitamins will not only destroy the stability of the human body's environment, but even cause poisoning.

Vitamin A overdose: 

Adults who consume more than 50,000 IU a day for several months can cause poisoning. If children intake more than 18500IU in a day, it will cause poisoning.

Main manifestations: Due to the enhanced activity of osteoclasts, bone decalcification, increased bone fragility, growth inhibition, thickening of long bones and bone and joint pain. dry skin, itching, scaly skin, rash, peeling, hair loss, finger (toe) nails are fragile. Irritability, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, restlessness. Reduced appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice. Blood hemoglobin and potassium are reduced, clotting time is prolonged and bleeding is easy.

Vitamin D overdose:

Vitamin D is an important medicine for the prevention and treatment of rickets, but the consequences of overdose are more dangerous than suffering from rickets. If a child takes 20,000 units a day for a few weeks or months, it causes headache, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, thirst, drowsiness, polyuria, dehydration, high fever and coma, protein and red blood cells appear in the urine. If it is not stopped in time, death can be caused by hypercalcemia and renal failure.

Vitamin A and D poisoning has the highest incidence in infants and children aged 6 months to 3 years. It is mostly caused by parents taking too much cod liver oil for children.

Vitamin B1 overdose:

Large amount of vitamin B1 intaking can cause dizziness, diarrhea, edema, arrhythmia and so on. If the intramuscular injection is overdose, erythema, rubella, contact dermatitis, bronchial asthma and even anaphylactic shock can occur. Overdose in pregnant women can cause postpartum hemorrhage.

Vitamin B2 overdose:

Large dose injection of vitamin B2 can block the renal tubules and resulting in renal dysfunction such as oliguria.

Vitamin B3 overdose:

It can cause skin flushing, fever, itching and fotmication (Feeling like there are some ant walking on skin). Symptoms such as palpitation, vomiting and nausea can also occur.

Vitamin B6 overdose

If pregnant women use a large dose of 25 mg or more, it can affect the supply of fetal nutrition and cause fetal development obstacles. Anaphylactic shock can also occur if the intramuscular injection is overdose.

Vitamin B9 overdose

There will be bitter taste in the mouth, anxiety and abnormal sleep patterns.

Vitamin B12 overdose

Allergic reactions such as asthma, urticaria, eczema, drug rash and facial edema can occur, as well as precordial pain and palpitation. Therefore, it can aggravate the condition of patients with angina or increase the number of attacks.

Vitamin C overdose

Long-term large intaking can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. If reducing the dosage suddenly, it is more likely to suffer from scurvy than before taking vitamin C. The urine is acidified and oxalate increases rapidly, causing kidney stones are easily formed. Rapid intravenous injection of large doses of vitamin C can cause red blood cell lysis or venous thrombosis, which is fatal. Babies who take a lot of vitamin C often suffer from restless sleep, indigestion, edema, diarrhea, and urticaria. Repeated intravenous injections of vitamin C can cause itchy papules and even anaphylactic shock and death.

Vitamin E overdose

If the daily dosage is more than 400 mg, long-term application may cause thrombosis and also cause menorrhagia or amenorrhea. When the dose is 2000 to 12000 mg, it will affect the fertility. For diabetic patients with severe hypertension, myocardial damage and insulin therapy, vitamin E should be used with extreme caution. At the beginning, 100 mg per day, then gradually increase the dose, otherwise it is easy to cause platelet aggregation and thrombosis.

Vitamin K overdose

It can cause hemolytic anemia and liver cell damage, as well as allergic reactions.

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