What does vitamin B important for?

Answer 1

Each of the eight B vitamins catalyzes hundreds of critical biochemical reactions in the body, such as converting the foods we eat into energy. They are also essential in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, and in the synthesis of DNA and new cells.* A growing body of evidence arising from several clinical studies indicates that regular intake of folic acid and vitamins B12 and B6 can significantly decrease the incidence of adverse heart problems after coronary surgery, especially angioplasty, by lowering plasma homocysteine levels.* Homocysteine is an amino acid that accumulates in the blood - mostly as a result of a poor diet - and can lead to blood clots. The latest results come from a clinical study conducted at the University Hospital in Bern, Switzerland. According to Dr. Guido Schnyder, Assistant Professor in the Cardiology Division at the University of California, San Diego, who co-authored the report in the August 28th issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, the findings of the study might "modify standard orders for patients undergoing coronary angioplasty." Roughly 1.5 million angioplasties are performed worldwide each year, at a cost of $5,000 to $10,000 each. In addition, up to 20% of patients require a repeat angioplasty within the following year. "A treatment that improves outcome after coronary angioplasty," says Schnyder, "is not only of benefit to the patients but to healthcare costs overall." Since the mid-eighties, many studies have shown that even moderately elevated plasma homocysteine levels create significant health risks. Homocysteine injures the cells that line arteries and disrupts normal blood-clotting mechanisms, thereby increasing the risk of clots that trigger heart attacks and strokes. An article in the June issue of The New England Journal of Medicine reported that elevated levels of homocysteine increase the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. The higher the homocysteine level, the more likely a person is to develop Alzheimer's disease later in life. When plasma homocysteine is at a high level (over 14 micromoles per liter of blood), the risk of Alzheimer's

disease doubled. As a result, many health professionals argue that taking folic acid, B6 and B12 vitamins regularly can constitute an extremely effective and low-cost preventive health measure both to avoid first-time heart problems as well as to prevent recurrence. A literature review shows that supplementation with these B vitamins among older adults may enhance cognitive functioning.

Answer 2

Vitamin B is needed for adequate nerve functioning, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, normal growth, red blood cell development, and cell reproduction.