All B vitamins are essential, just like other vitamins and except for vitamin B12, the body has no significant stockpile of them. As B vitamins are water soluble, we need a supply of B-vitamins every day. The respective B-vitamins support various functions in the body. Most of them act as coenzymes, which means that they bind to enzymes and help to carry out the enzyme functions.
Three primary areas in which B vitamins are used are energy production, nervous system function and psychological function. All 8 B vitamins help the body to convert carbohydrates from our food into glucose, which is used as fuel to produce energy. B vitamins also support the nervous system and our mental and emotional well-being.
It may be advantageous to supplement with a whole B complex rather than with individual B vitamins, as the individual B vitamins exert their functions in close cooperation with one another in the body. They have what is known as a ‘synergistic relationship’ meaning they all dependent on each other to carry out their individual functions. A lack of just one B vitamin rarely occurs since people do not eat individual nutrients.
As B vitamins are found mainly in meat, fish and dairy products, vegetarians and vegans are more likely to be deficient and should be careful to ensure they are getting enough B vitamins on a daily basis.
Over the years, people have begun to move away from using the numbers associated with each B vitamin and instead using their names. Still, it can sometimes be practical to simply use the number associated with a B vitamin.