Quality Spotlight: Compare B Vitamins

B vitamins are critical to the function of every cell in the body. B vitamins play essential roles in energy production, mood, detoxification, neurotransmitter production, thyroid function, brain health, skin and hair health, immunity, heart, lungs, liver health, and more.

B vitamins are quickly used up by stress, caffeine, and alcohol. Digestive issues, nutrient-poor diets, and numerous medications including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), Metformin, hormonal birth controls, antibiotics, antidepressants, inhalers, and diuretics can deplete B vitamins. B vitamins are water-soluble and are not stored in the body, so we must replenish them daily. Could you use a B vitamin boost right now?!

B vitamins work synergistically together and supplemental intake must be balanced with one another. Supplementing with all B vitamins together in a multiple vitamin or b complex supplement is best. Beware, many supplements and fortified foods contain synthetic, low-quality forms of B vitamins. Here’s how to detect the high-quality forms of B vitamins that will make a difference in your health!

1. The Coenzyme Difference – Coenzyme B vitamins are easy to absorb and already in the exact form your cells need, a major metabolic advantage. These high-quality B vitamins cost more than the inactive forms most often used in supplements, but they make a huge difference to your energy and health. Inactive forms of B vitamins must have energy (ATP) donated to convert them into a bioactive form and make them useful. This process may not be efficient in people who are already stressed or short on energy, thus they won’t feel any better from taking non-coenzyme B vitamins.

A quick way to tell if your multiple vitamin contains coenzyme forms of B vitamins is to look at vitamin B12. If it is cyanocobalamin, the company is cutting corners on quality. If the product label doesn’t list the exact forms of b vitamins, you can assume it contains the low quality forms – otherwise, the company would want to tell you about it!
2. Avoid Cyanide – Cyanocobalamin is the most popular form of vitamin B12 found in enriched foods and low quality nutritional supplements because it is a fraction of the cost of the bioavailable coenzyme forms of B12, called methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. Cyanocobalamin is a synthetic form of vitamin B12. In fact, as it is metabolized it actually produces cyanide, which your body then needs to use precious energy clearing out!

3. Support Methylation – Methylation is a major process in the body and is always occurring in every cell of the body. It is the action of transferring a methyl group or carbon atom linked to three hydrogens from one molecule to another molecule. Approximately 40-70 percent of the population has compromised methylation function and most don’t even know about it. Without a genetic test, it is difficult to detect. Supplementing with cheap unmethylated forms of B vitamins is especially problematic if you are someone with compromised methylation. If you have this genetic setback, your daily need for folate (B7), B6, and B12 is higher than average. Methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin (B12) and 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (premethylated folate) are coenzyme B vitamins that support methylation.

At Wellness Resources, we only use the bioavailable, coenzyme forms of B vitamins and methylated folate in our supplements. Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin, Super Coenzyme B Complex, Daily Prenatal Multiple Vitamin, Super-Mini Multi, and Blood Booster all contain these advanced forms of B vitamins for energy, mood, and more. Feel the difference that high quality, coenzyme B vitamins will make for you!