Riboflavin / Vitamin B2 Review & Information
Riboflavin or vitamin B2, is one of a complex of vitamins that plays a significant role in releasing energy from the nutrients in food. Like all of the B vitamins, riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin. Two forms of B2, known as FMN and FAD, are coenzymes that participate in chemical reactions that produce energy. These coenzymes can accept and then donate hydrogen atoms, an important process during energy metabolism. Riboflavin is...
Vitamin A Information & Benefits
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that exists in several chemical forms. Retinal and retinol, forms of Vitamin A found in meat, eggs, and milk, are known as “preformed” Vitamin A. The active form of Vitamin A from these sources is known as retinoic acid. All of these substances are known as retinoids. In plants, Vitamin A is derived from precursors known as carotenoids. There are several carotenoids, which are compounds that give...
Potassium Citrate Review & Information
Potassium citrate is one form of the mineral potassium, a positively charged ion that plays a role in fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. Potassium is also essential in controlling muscle activity, particularly contraction and coordination of muscles. It plays an important role in nerve transmission and maintaining heart rhythm as well. In addition, potassium helps to convert glucose into glycogen, which is stored as the body’s...
Phosphatidylcholine And Its Benefits
Phosphatidylcholine is a substance derived from the nutrient compound lecithin that consists of phosphate, fatty acids and choline. The components of phosphatidylcholine, particularly the fatty acids and choline, make it valuable as a health-promoting agent. The choline in phophatidylcholine is necessary for metabolism of fatty acids and for the transport of fats through cells. Phosphatidylcholine is one of the major components of...
Niacin / Vitamin B3 Review & Information
Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is one of a complex of B vitamins that are essential to health. Niacin is also known as nicotinic acid. Nicotinamide/niacinamide is another delivery form commonly used in supplements and fortified foods. Also, since niacin is a precursor to the amino acid tryptophan, it can be made from tryptophan in the body. Vitamin B3 is part of coenzymes (NAD and NADP) that play an important role in energy...
PABA: A Cure in Search of a Disease
PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) is a naturally-occurring compound that is perhaps best known as an ingredient in topical sunscreens. Although other UV-absorbing agents have largely replaced it, PABA lingers on in the marketplace as a medical/industrial chemical. PABA is sometimes considered to be part of the vitamin B complex, but it’s not a true vitamin at all. Although it’s found in foods and is a precursor for folic acid...