Vitamin B Complex Side Effects

Vitamin B complex is a term used for all vitamin B supplements that are consumed to improve the metabolism and several other benefits like healthy nervous system and healthy skin. There can be several side effects of vitamin B complex if taken without proper medical guidance. This article highlights vitamin B complex side effects...
Vitamin B Complex Side Effects
Vitamin B is a water soluble vitamin which is extremely important for the body to perform its proper functions and cell metabolism. Vitamin B is naturally present in food products like bananas, lentils, liver, liver oils, chili peppers, tuna fish, turkey and also the brewer's yeast. Initially, vitamin B was considered to be a single vitamin. Later on various researches suggested that vitamin B is actually a group of 8 different vitamins that are chemically distinct from each other and have their own significance on the human body.

Vitamin B supports the cell metabolism, maintain the tone of the skin, improves the nervous system as well as the immune system functions and increases the amount of red blood cells by enhancing cell division and cell growth. Vitamin B deficiency can cause several problems, including beriberi, heart failure, amnesia, anemia, acne, depression, hypertension and other medical conditions.

Vitamin B Complex
Consuming food having poor nutritional value or several illnesses during pregnancy can cause vitamin deficiency. The Public Health Service has recommended at least 400 mg of vitamin B9 (folic acid) to avoid the vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy. Vitamin B supplements are created to avoid all the problems that can be caused due to vitamin B deficiency. These supplements are called as vitamin B complex. Vitamin B complex is actually a mixture of all 8 vitamins from the vitamin B group. These vitamins are: Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Pyridoxine (B6), Biotin (B7) and Folic Acid (B9) and Cyanocobalamin or vitamin B12. The vitamin B complex is also called as vitamin B compound and are available in tablets as well as in liquid form. Since all vitamins are different in their chemical formations, it is often observed that some of the matching vitamins are combined while preparing the vitamin B complex. Most of the times, vitamin B1, B2 and B3 are combined together to provide several benefits like energy, strong muscles, improving antioxidant properties, healthy nervous system as well as maintaining good tone of the skin. Many combination of the vitamin B complex are available for overcoming vitamin B deficiencies.

Side Effects of Vitamin B complex
Actually vitamin B complex side effects are not too many and they cannot be even observed if the supplements are taken in the prescribed quantity. Excessive use of anything leads to its side effects and vitamin B consumption is no different. Excessive intake of any of the combination of vitamin B complex can cause several problems. Here are the possible side effects of each member of the vitamin B complex.
Thiamine (B1) Riboflavin (B2)
  • Fatigue
  • Anemia
  • Vomiting
  • Low blood pressure
  • Nausea
Niacin (B3)
  • Headaches
  • Itchiness of the skin
  • Flushing of the skin
  • Throbbing head
  • Vomiting and nausea
Pantothenic Acid (B5) Pyridoxine (B6)
  • Numbness of fingers with tingling feeling
  • Loss of muscle coordination
  • Mood swings
  • Depression
Folic Acid (B9) Cyanocobalamin (B12)
  • Anxiety
  • Numbness and tingling of various body parts (face and fingers)
Tips Before Taking Vitamin B Complex
Vitamin B complex are vitamin supplements that are available in the form of capsules, tablets and liquids. Before taking vitamin B complex, it is advised to consult your health care provider and see what combination suits you and what combination is lacking in your body. You must not consume vitamin B complex in the following conditions.
  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • If you have a history of stomach ulcer, diabetes, liver problems or gout
  • In case you are taking several other medicines, herbal or any kind of complimentary medicines
  • In case of having allergic reactions to any medicines.
Vitamin B complex are actually a good way to complement the low intake of the B vitamins. Try to follow a healthy diet with the right amount natural sources of the vitamin B rather than taking vitamin supplements and falling for the side effects of vitamin B complex. Take care!

By Rutuja Jathar
Published: 8/17/2009
 
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