Vitamin B12 Information & Benefits
Vitamin B12 is one of eight vitamins in the B complex. A water-soluble vitamin, B12 works closely with other B vitamins, particularly folic acid. Vitamin B12 activates the folic acid coenzyme and is also activated as a coenzyme by folic acid. Vitamin B12 is necessary for the synthesis of DNA and RNA. It is also involved in the synthesis of red blood cells. In addition, Vitamin B12 protects nerve fibers by maintaining the sheath that...
Beta Carotene Information, Benefits and Side Effects
Beta carotene is one of the (nearly) 600 different carotenoids—plant pigments that give red/orange fruits and vegetables their color. It’s best known as a precursor to vitamin A (retinol) in the body. While vitamin A, a fat-soluble nutrient, can be toxic if taken in excess, beta-carotene can be safely ingested even in large quantities. This is why many multivitamin supplement formulas rely on beta-carotene to supply part—and...
Review of Coral Calcium and Its Benefits
Coral calcium is a rather controversial supplement. As implied by the name, it’s a form of the essential mineral calcium, derived from fossilized coral reefs. When it burst on the scene, it was touted by marketers—including the notorious Kevin Trudeau and “Dr.” Bob Barefoot—as a near-miraculous nutrient, capable of preventing/treating cancer and other degenerative diseases. Nor were they the only ones to make...
Manganese Benefits and Side Effects
Manganese is a trace mineral, and as such, it is present in very small amounts in the body. About 20 milligrams of manganese is found mostly in bones and metabolically active organs like the liver, kidneys and pancreas. The primary role of manganese is as a coenzyme in a variety of metabolic processes. It helps the body produce energy from foods, and it is also involved in thyroid function and bone formation. In addition, manganese is...
Pantothenic Acid Benefits and Side Effects
Pantothenic Acid, also known as vitamin B5, is one of eight vitamins that comprise the B complex. Pantothenic acid is part of coenzyme A (CoA), an essential metabolite the body uses to produce energy from food (fats, carbohydrates and proteins). Since pantothenic acid is found in a wide variety of foods, deficiencies are rare. The symptoms of experimental deficiency include headache, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, insomnia,...
Vitamin D Benefits and Information
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that the body can make from a precursor in the skin. With the help of cholesterol, the body uses sunlight to convert this Vitamin D precursor into active Vitamin D. Because of the unique way that Vitamin D can be synthesized, people who spend adequate time in the sun do not need to obtain this nutrient from foods. There are two forms of Vitamin D, one made by plants (ergocalciferol or Vitamin D2) and...
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