The vitamin B family is a group of eight vitamins that have many essential roles in the body including energy production, mood regulation, nerve function support and offsetting the effects of stress. The B-vitamin family includes vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid or folate), and vitamin B12 (cobalamin).
B vitamins are water soluble, and as a result they are easily lost from the body through urine and sweat. This, along with other factors such as a modern diet high in processed foods, makes it easy to become deficient in B-vitamins. Additionally, certain groups such as vegans, vegetarians and the elderly are at greater risk for becoming deficient. Deficiency can lead to numerous health issues including blood sugar imbalances, neurological disorders, anemia and depression.
Taking a typical B-complex formula may be essentially useless, as your body might not be able to utilize it. The body must convert the B-vitamins into their active coenzyme forms in order to absorb them, and some people have genetic alterations that reduce their body's ability to perform these conversions. Another downfall of generic B-vitamin formulas is that they tend to deliver exactly the same dose of each B vitamin. Since the body needs them in different amounts, this makes little sense and can even lead to nutrient imbalances.
These two factors highlight the need for a B-complex supplement that contains all of the B-vitamins in their active coenzyme forms, in evidence-based dosages, and in the correct ratios to one another. Pro B Complex by AOR delivers the biologically active and most efficient forms of these vitamins in balanced doses to ensure that you get the most out of your B-complex.