B vitamins are essential nutrients for growth, development, and a variety of other bodily functions. They play a major role in the activities of enzymes (proteins) that regulate chemical reactions in the body. This is especially important in turning food into energy and other needed substances. B vitamins are found in a variety of plant and animal food sources.
While B vitamins are an important part of the diet and are needed to help avoid many health conditions, there is not enough scientific evidence to determine if B vitamins can reduce the risk of cancer. Vitamin B9 (folic acid) may have some protective effect against certain cancers, but more studies are needed to confirm this (see our document, Folic Acid). There is no evidence that B vitamins are an effective treatment for people who already have cancer.
Scientists know that B vitamins influence several important bodily functions:
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin B2 (riboflavin) help the body produce energy and affect enzymes that influence the muscles, nerves, and heart.
Vitamin B3 (niacin) also has a role in energy production in cells and in maintaining the health of the skin, nervous system, and digestive system.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) influences normal growth and development.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) helps the body break down protein, and helps maintain the health of red blood cells, the nervous system, and parts of the immune system.
Vitamin B7 (biotin) helps break down protein, and carbohydrates, and helps the body make hormones.
Vitamin B9 (folic acid) helps the cells in the body make and maintain DNA, and is important in the production of red blood cells.
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) plays a role in growth, development, the production of blood cells, the functions of the nervous system, and how the body uses folic acid and carbohydrates.
Deficiency of certain B vitamins can cause anemia, tiredness, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, depression, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, muscle cramps, respiratory infections, hair loss, eczema, poor growth in children, and birth defects in the fetuses of pregnant women.
Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding require more folic acid than others. All women of childbearing age are urged to increase their intake of folic acid to help prevent certain birth defects in their children.
Some alternative medical practitioners claim that deficiencies in B vitamins weaken the immune system and make the body vulnerable to cancer. They recommend high doses of B vitamins as treatments for people with cancer. However, current scientific evidence has not found any effect of B vitamin supplements on the growth and spread of cancer. Many researchers are studying the relationships between vitamin intake and risk of developing certain cancers.Vitamin B Complex
