What is the difference between vitamin b6 b12 and b complex

Taking a high-dose B-complex supplement can also turn the urine bright yellow. This effect is temporary and harmless. Once the kidneys get rid of the extra vitamins, the color will return to normal. Some vitamin and supplement companies use independent quality testing of their products.

Those that pass may have a seal of approval from an independent testing organization. This seal does not guarantee that the product is percent safe or effective for everyone, but it means that the product contains what is listed on the label without contaminants. In most cases, vitamin B does not interact negatively with other medications. However, certain medicines can make a vitamin B deficiency more likely. Avocados are a major source of B vitamins. However, animal products are a major source of B vitamins, so people following restricted diets should take steps to ensure that they are getting enough of each vitamin from different dietary sources.

Learn more about vegetarian and vegan sources of vitamin B here. Whenever possible, a person should take in B vitamins by eating a variety of healthful foods. However, some people benefit from taking a B-complex supplement. People can find these supplements in health or drug stores, or they can choose between brands online.

A B-complex supplement is generally safe when a person takes it as directed. Read the article in Spanish. Most people can get the required amount of vitamins and minerals through food alone.

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Benefits and uses of B-complex vitamins. Although these vitamins share some characteristics, they all have unique functions and are needed in different amounts. Since B vitamins are found in many foods, you are most likely not at risk of developing a deficiency as long as you follow a well-rounded diet. During pregnancy, the demand for B vitamins, particularly B12 and folate, grows to support fetal development 9. In women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, especially those who follow vegetarian or vegan diets, supplementing with a B-complex vitamin is crucial.

B12 or folate deficiency in pregnant or breastfeeding women can lead to severe neurological damage or birth defects in the fetus or infant As you age, your ability to absorb vitamin B12 decreases and your appetite declines, making it difficult for some people to get enough B12 through diet alone.

Deficiency in B12 has been linked to increased rates of depression and mood disturbances in elderly people 12 , Deficiencies in vitamin B6 and folate are also common in the elderly population 14 , Additionally, the MTHFR genetic mutation can affect how your body metabolizes folate and can lead to a folate deficiency and other health issues In these circumstances, patients are often advised to supplement with a B-complex vitamin to correct or avoid deficiencies.

A daily B-complex vitamin can help ensure that people who choose to follow diets that eliminate animal products are getting enough of these important nutrients. For example, proton pump inhibitors, which are medications that lower stomach acid, can decrease the absorption of B12, while metformin, a popular diabetes drug, can decrease levels of both B12 and folate 24 , Birth control pills can also deplete several B vitamins, including B6, B12, folate and riboflavin Pregnancy, medical conditions, surgeries, genetic mutations, medications, dietary restriction and age can all affect how your body absorbs and uses B vitamins.

Some studies suggest that B-complex vitamins can lift your spirits and improve your cognitive performance. A day study in healthy men found that treatment with a high-dose B-complex and mineral supplement improved general mental health and stress and enhanced performance on cognitive tests Another study in young adults showed that supplementing with a multivitamin containing high levels of B-complex vitamins for 90 days reduced stress and mental fatigue While B-complex vitamin supplements are not a cure for mental health issues, they may help improve symptoms of depression or anxiety.

A study in 60 adults with depression showed that treatment with a B-complex vitamin for 60 days led to significant improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms, compared to a placebo If you already have enough vitamin B in your system, your body absorbs only a small percentage of the B you eat, and even large doses do not cause side effects.

Sylvie Tremblay holds a Master of Science in molecular and cellular biology and has years of experience as a cancer researcher and neuroscientist. Based in Ontario, Canada, Tremblay is an experienced journalist and blogger specializing in nutrition, fitness, lifestyle, health and biotechnology, as well as real estate, agriculture and clean tech. By Sylvie Tremblay Updated December 02, Related Articles.

Research is inconsistent. Both colchicine and vitamin B12 deficiency are reported to cause neuropathies disorders of the nervous system , but it remains unclear whether neuropathies caused by colchicine could be due to vitamin B12 depletion.

Corticosteroids may increase the loss of vitamin B6. One double-blind study of people with asthma failed to show any added benefit from taking mg per day of vitamin B6 along with inhaled steroids.

Therefore, while small amounts of vitamin B6 may be needed to prevent deficiency, large amounts may not provide added benefit. Some doctors recommend that people taking corticosteroids for longer than two weeks supplement with at least 2 mg of vitamin B6 per day. Cycloserine may interfere with calcium and magnesium absorption. The clinical significance of these interactions is unclear.

The clinical importance of this interaction is unclear. A review of literature suggests that women who use oral contraceptives may experience decreased vitamin B1 , B2 , B3 , B12 , C , and zinc levels. Oral contraceptive use has been associated with increased absorption of calcium and copper and with increased blood levels of copper and vitamin A.

Oral contraceptives may interfere with manganese absorption. The clinical importance of these actions remains unclear. OC use has been associated with increased absorption of calcium and copper and with increased blood levels of copper and vitamin A. OCs may interfere with manganese absorption.

Stomach acid is needed for the vitamin B12 in food to be absorbed. H-2 blocker drugs reduce stomach acid and may therefore inhibit absorption of the vitamin B12 naturally present in food. However, the vitamin B12 found in supplements does not depend on stomach acid for absorption. One controlled study revealed that taking anticonvulsant drugs dramatically reduces blood levels of vitamin B6.

A nutritional deficiency of vitamin B6 can lead to an increase in homocysteine blood levels, which has been associated with atherosclerosis. Vitamin B6 deficiency is also associated with symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, mental depression , and seizures.

On the other hand, supplementation with large amounts of vitamin B6 80— mg per day has been reported to reduce blood levels of some anticonvulsant drugs, which could theoretically trigger seizures. People taking multiple anticonvulsant drugs should discuss with their doctor whether supplementing with vitamin B6 is advisable. Vitamin B6 can bind to hydralazine to form a complex that is excreted in the urine, increasing vitamin B6 loss. This may lead to vitamin B6 deficiency.

People taking hydralazine should consult with their doctor to discuss the possibility of vitamin B6 supplementation. Phenelzine has a chemical structure similar to other drugs isoniazid and hydralazine that can cause vitamin B6 deficiency. One case of phenelzine-induced vitamin B6 deficiency has been reported. Little is known about this interaction.

People taking phenelzine should ask their doctor about monitoring vitamin B6 levels and considering supplementation. Isoniazid may interfere with the activity of other nutrients, including vitamin B3 niacin , vitamin B12 , vitamin D , and vitamin E , folic acid , calcium , and magnesium.

Supplementation with vitamin B6 is thought to help prevent isoniazid-induced niacin deficiency; however, small amounts of vitamin B6 e. People should consider using a daily multivitamin-mineral supplement during isoniazid therapy. Anemia is an uncommon side effect experienced by people taking anticonvulsant drugs.

Though many researches believe that low blood levels of folic acid are involved, the effects might be caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency. Deficiencies of folic acid and vitamin B12 can lead to nerve and mental problems. One study revealed that individuals on long-term anticonvulsant therapy, despite having no laboratory signs of anemia, had dramatically lower levels of vitamin B12 in their cerebrospinal fluid the fluid that bathes the brain when compared with people who were not taking seizure medications.

Improvement in mental status and nerve function was observed in a majority of symptomatic individuals after taking 30 mcg of vitamin B12 daily for a few days.

Another study found that long-term anticonvulsant therapy had no effect on blood levels of vitamin B The results of these two studies indicate that people taking anticonvulsant drugs might experience side effects of vitamin B12 deficiency, and that the deficiency is not easily detected by the usual blood tests.

Therefore, individuals taking anticonvulsant drugs for several months or years might prevent nerve and mental problems by supplementing with vitamin B Oral contraceptives use has been associated with increased absorption of calcium and copper and with increased blood levels of copper and vitamin A. Oral contraceptivess may interfere with manganese absorption. Metformin therapy has been shown to deplete vitamin B12, and sometimes, but not always, folic acid as well. This depletion occurs through the interruption of a calcium-dependent mechanism.

People taking metformin should supplement vitamin B12 and folic acid or ask their doctor to monitor folic acid and vitamin B12 levels. Stomach acid is needed for vitamin B12 in food to be absorbed by the body. Omeprazole interferes with the absorption of vitamin B12 from food though not from supplements in some but not all studies.

A true deficiency state, resulting in vitamin Bdeficiency anemia, has only been reported in one case. The fall in vitamin B12 status may result from the decrease in stomach acid required for vitamin B12 absorption from food caused by the drug. This problem may possibly be averted by drinking acidic juices when eating foods containing vitamin B However, all people taking omeprazole need to either supplement with vitamin B12 or have their vitamin B12 status checked on a yearly basis.

Even relatively small amounts of vitamin B12 such as 10—50 mcg per day, are likely to protect against drug induced vitamin depletion. Penicillamine may increase vitamin B6 excretion, reduce activity, and increase the risk for vitamin B6 deficiency.

It makes sense for people taking penicillamine to supplement with small 5—20 mg per day amounts of vitamin B6.

Some researchers have suggested that as much as 50 mg per day of vitamin B6 may be necessary. Though the cause may be folic acid deficiency in many cases, a deficiency of vitamin B12 may also be a factor in some instances. Despite these contradictory findings, people taking anticonvulsant drugs for several months or years might prevent nerve and mental problems by supplementing with vitamin B Stomach acid is needed to release vitamin B12 from food so it can be absorbed by the body.

H-2 blocker drugs reduce stomach acid and are associated with decreased dietary vitamin B12 absorption. Lab tests can determine vitamin B12 levels. Sulfonamides, including sulfamethoxazole, can interfere with the activity of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin K.

This is generally not a problem when taking sulfamethoxazole for two weeks or less. People taking sulfamethoxazole for longer than two weeks should ask their doctor about nutrient monitoring and supplementation.

Note: Since sulfamethoxazole is often prescribed in combination with trimethoprim for example, in Bactrim or Septra , it may be easy to associate this interaction with trimethoprim. However, this interaction is not known to occur with trimethoprim alone. Theophyline has been associated with depressed serum vitamin B6 levels in children with asthma and adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In a short-term study of healthy adults, theophylline reduced serum vitamin B6 levels and supplementation with vitamin B6 10 mg per day normalized vitamin B6 levels.

Some doctors believe that it makes sense for people taking this drug to accompany it with 10 mg of vitamin B6 per day. AZT can inhibit crucial DNA-related riboflavin activity, which may be normalized by riboflavin supplementation.

A year-old woman with AIDS and lactic acidosis received a single dose of 50 mg of riboflavin, after which her laboratory tests returned to normal and her lactic acidosis was completely resolved. More research is needed to confirm the value of riboflavin for preventing and treating this side effect. Persons with AIDS have developed lactic acidosis and fatty liver while taking didanosine and other drugs in its class. Didanosine can inhibit crucial DNA-related riboflavin activity, which may be normalized by riboflavin supplementation.

Docetaxel may cause a reddening, swelling, and pain in hands and feet. Two cases have been reported of people suffering these drug-induced symptoms and responding to 50 mg of vitamin B6 given three times per day. Symptoms began to resolve in 12 to 24 hours and continued to improve for several weeks.

Animal research suggests doxorubicin may deplete riboflavin and that riboflavin deficiency promotes doxorubicin toxicity. Increased blood levels of homocysteine are associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.