Vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenic acid) is a water soluble vitamin which is part of the B complex group (eight vitamins which were initially all thought to be vitamin B). It was first noticed by R.J. Williams in 1933 as a growth factor in yeast. In 1939 Richard Kuhn isolated vitamin B5 but it got little attention till over 10 years later. In the 1950s scientists performed further research into the effect vitamin B5 had on humans by feeding volunteers a diet that was deficient in the vitamin. After a few weeks on the diet the volunteers complained that they felt weak and unwell. … [Read more...]
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Explained
Vitamin B3 (also known as niacin) is water soluble vitamin that is part of the B complex group of vitamins (a group of eight individual vitamins which were initially thought to be a singular vitamin B). The discovery of vitamin B3 is linked with a disease called pellagra (which causes the skin to become red and rough and can ultimately prove fatal). In the 1900s this disease was nearly epidemic and there were a number of rumours circulating regarding how it was caused. In 1915 Dr Joseph Goldberger linked the disease with diet. He added lean meat, eggs, milk or yeast to the diets of some … [Read more...]
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Explained
Vitamin B2 (also known as riboflavin) is a water soluble, B complex vitamin (a group of vitamins that were initially thought to be the singular vitamin B) that was first noticed in 1879 when a fluorescent yellow-green coloured pigment was found in milk. However, no one knew what this pigment actually did. In 1920 researchers heated food stuffs containing vitamin B (which we now know as the eight B complex vitamins) and found that the heat destroyed the beriberi preventing effect (now known as vitamin B1). However, it did not destroy the growth promoting effect as quickly which prompted … [Read more...]
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Explained
Vitamin B1 (also known as thiamine) is a water soluble vitamin and is part of the B complex vitamins (a group of eight B vitamins that were initially thought to be the singular vitamin B). The discovery of vitamin B1 is heavily linked with a condition called beriberi. During the late nineteenth century a beriberi epidemic broke out in Asia. This prompted increased research into both the cause of beriberi and a cure. The Dutch physician Christiaan Eijkman was the first person to discover the link between vitamin B1 and beriberi when he realised that feeding chickens unpolished (brown) rice … [Read more...]
What Are B Vitamins?
The B vitamins (also known as the B complex vitamins) are a group of eight water soluble vitamins. They all play an important role in cell metabolism (the process which allows your body's cells to get energy and nutrients from the food you eat) and were initially thought to be a singular B vitamin. Today I am going to be discussing the B vitamin group in greater detail. The B vitamins were initially discovered by Elmer V. McCollum and his team of researchers who were performing nutritional studies on rats. Between 1912 and 1914 these studies had led to the discovery of vitamin A – the … [Read more...]
What Are Water Soluble Vitamins?
In my last few articles I discussed the four fat soluble vitamins. Today I am going to explain the remaining nine water soluble vitamins. Water soluble vitamins are given their name because they dissolve in water. They are found in a variety of foods. Unlike fat soluble vitamins which can be stored by the body, water soluble vitamins are only stored for brief periods and any excess is usually excreted in the urine (with the exception of vitamin B12 which is stored in the liver). Therefore, you need to replenish your supply of water soluble vitamins on a daily basis. When preparing … [Read more...]