Category Archives: Vitamin B

On The Bioavailability of B Vitamins

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Food tables and labels provide information on the quantities of nutrients in foods. It is often assumed that eating the food will provide the individual with the listed nutrients. However the value provided on the labels may not be representative … Continue reading →

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Does Alcohol Affect Thiamine Metabolism?

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Alcoholics have poor nutritional status. In particular alcoholics are often deficient in a number of B vitamins, including thiamine. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a cluster of neurological disorders associated with alcohol induced thiamine deficiency that includes palsies, ataxia of gait, nystagmus … Continue reading →

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Alfalfa: Nutrient Dense Herb

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is perennial herb that belongs to the Fabaceae or legume family of plants. Alfalfa grows to around one metre in height and possesses leaves that look similar to trilobed clover leaves. Alfalfa produced purple flowers which mature … Continue reading →

Posted in Alfalfa, Antioxidant, Courmarins, Daidzein, Flavonoids, Genistein, Isoflavones, Pulses / Legumes, Saponins, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin K | Comments Off on Alfalfa: Nutrient Dense Herb

Are Multivitamin and Mineral Supplements Effective?

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Evidence in the scientific literature suggests that certain minerals and vitamin intakes are deficient in large proportions of Western populations. Essential nutrients that are of particular concern include vitamin D, chromium, calcium and magnesium. The main reason for low intake … Continue reading →

Posted in Calcium, Exercise, Macrominerals, Magnesium, Micronutrients, Multivitamin Multimineral, Trace Minerals, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Zinc | Comments Off on Are Multivitamin and Mineral Supplements Effective?

Folic Acid Deficiency: The Cardiovascular Disease Link

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Homocysteine is a product of cellular methionine metabolism. Evidence suggests that high levels of plasma homocysteine are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine may interfere with endothelial physiology through inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis, inducing endothelial dysfunction possibly via … Continue reading →

Posted in Cobalamin, Endothelial Dysfunction, Folate, Homocysteine, Nitric Oxide, Oxidative Stress, Pyridoxine, Vitamin B | Comments Off on Folic Acid Deficiency: The Cardiovascular Disease Link

B Vitamin Status of Hypercholesterolaemic Men

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease because homocysteine can cause damage to the endothelial linings of arteries. Homocysteine in humans can be metabolised to a number of different compounds and these metabolic steps … Continue reading →

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When is A Vitamin Not A Vitamin?

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Vitamins are essential organic compounds needed in small amounts for normal metabolic regulation, usually as cofactors to enzymes. They are characterised in their own group because they cannot be synthesised in the body and so must be obtained from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beta Carotene, Carotenoids, Cholecalciferol, Ergocalciferol, Niacin, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin D, Vitamin K | Comments Off on When is A Vitamin Not A Vitamin?

Niacin, Triglycerides and Skeletal Muscle Fibres

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Niacin (vitamin B3: here) is generic name for the compounds nicotinic acid and niacinamide. Although classed as a vitamin, niacin can actually be synthesised in the liver from the essential amino acid tryptophan and so it technically only conditionally essential. … Continue reading →

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A Note on Beetroot

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is known for its deep green and succulent leaves that are often added to salads. Spinach leaves are nutritionally packed full of essential nutrients including magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin K, folic acid and iron. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Antioxidant, Beetroot (Beets), Betaxanthins), Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Vitamin B, Vitamin C | Comments Off on A Note on Beetroot

The Nutritional Content of The Shrimp

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Shrimps or prawns are crustaceans that belonging to the arthropod group of animals, in a subgroup that includes barnacles, crabs, krill, lobsters and crayfish. Prawns have a tough outer shell (like all crustaceans), covering a semi-translucent flesh that can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Cobalamin, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Protein, Selenium, Vitamin B | Comments Off on The Nutritional Content of The Shrimp