B Vitamins And Blood Pressure
by nhri | Aug 16, 2013 | 2012, Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Health, Vitamin B – General |
This article discusses the finding that B vitamins: thiamine and folacin were associated with a decrease in blood pressure.
Dietary B vitamins may have favorable effects on blood pressure according to a nutrient-wide statistical study published by the American Heart Association.
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is the leading cause of heart disease worldwide . Risk for heart disease and stroke increases across a range of blood pressures, with substantial risk attributed to even high-normal blood pressure levels . Dietary habits including salt use are known to be related to blood pressure elevation , but the role of many nutrients is unclear despite research efforts .
A nutrient-wide association study is a broad statistical approach. Instead of testing a single nutrient at a time for associations with increased blood pressure, it evaluates multiple nutritional factors. The associations which emerge from one set of data are then validated across a different set of data.
A somewhat similar ongoing observational population study being done by the United States is the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey or NHANES. Their data from 1999-2006 was used by the nutrient-wide study to validate associations found in the INTERMAP study.
References:
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What Are The Effects Of Vitamin B12 On Blood Pressure
Vitamin B12 is one of the eight water-soluble vitamins that make up the B complex of vitamins. All of them are needed for numerous bodily functions required to stay healthy.
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Vitamin B12 and blood pressure are linked through the vitamin’s role in the âproduction of red blood cellsâ and its potential to treat certain conditions relating to low blood pressure. #
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Vitamin B12 plays a key role in the production of healthy red blood cells, and deficiency can lead to the development of pernicious anemia, which means your blood pressure may be linked to the amount of B-12 in your diet.
Daily Recommendations For Vitamin B
Many B-complex supplements contain about 100% of the RDA of each of the eight B vitamins.
However, some contain very high levels of certain B vitamins. Before taking a high-dose supplement, talk with a doctor.
The following are RDAs for each of the B vitamins, in milligrams or micrograms , according to The National Institutes of Health . Older adults may require higher dosages of some B vitamins.
| Males | |
| Vitamin B3 or dietary equivalents | 16 mg |
| Vitamin B9 or dietary equivalents | 400 mcg |
Vitamin B-complex supplements may help with certain health problems. If a person has any of the conditions listed below, they may benefit from taking a supplement that contains B vitamins:
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Commonly Used Treatments And Medications
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension eating plan
In addition to the nutrients listed below, eating pattern plays a key role in blood pressure regulation. For example, adherence to the DASH eating plan a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and low-fat dairy while low in saturated and total fat has been linked to significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
For more information about the DASH eating plan, see the National Institutes of Health.
Antihypertensive Medications
There are many medications prescribed to lower blood pressure. The five main classes of blood pressure-lowering medication and potential nutritional interactions are listed in Table 1.
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Which Foods Contain Vitamin B3
Food sources of vitamin B3 include:
- meat, including poultry, beef, pork, and fish
- some nuts, legumes, and grains
- fortified breads and cereals
These Thai chicken tacos with peanut sauce are a great way to get niacin in your diet.
Summary
Vitamin B3 deficiencies are very rare in the United States. In severe cases, low B3 can lead to a serious condition called pellagra.
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Vitamin B1 Overdose Symptoms
Vitamin B1, or thiamine, supports normal cell function and helps your body convert food into energy. Thiamine overdose symptoms are unlikely to occur because this vitamin will be excreted in urine when consumed in excess. Vitamin B1 deficiency, on the other hand, can be a lot more harmful.
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Thiamine overdose doesn’t cause toxicity. In fact, there is no upper limit for this vitamin. However, you may experience digestive distress.
Beware that âthiamine hydrochlorideâ, a synthetic form of vitamin B1, may cause allergic reactions and other side effects. Stomach pain, arrhythmia, eye irritation, vomiting and diarrhea are just a few examples. Discuss with your doctor before taking this drug.
Why Might Thiamine Reduce Fatigue
If high-dose thiamine does not work by addressing a thiamine deficiency, through what mechanism does it reduce fatigue? The short answer is we do not know for sure, but several hypotheses have been offered.
Building on a hypothesis first advanced by Costantini, Bager and colleagues suggest the possibility that high-dose thiamine may have helped compensate for a defect in the active transport mechanism through which thiamine is normally absorbed. While the effect of high-dose oral thiamine was highly significant in our study, the authors write, its exact mechanisms still need to be explored and investigated. The theory of a dysfunction in thiamine transport from blood to mitochondria remains a plausible explanation.
The participants in our study were exposed to high doses of thiamine which induces passive diffusion that will add thiamine to the cells and the mitochondria. Consequently, the carbohydrate metabolism can normalize, and a reduction of fatigue is likely to follow.
In a recent on a blog post, noted thiamine expert Derrick Lonsdale offered an alternative hypothesis to explain what he terms as the miraculous clinical effects of high-dose thiamine.
As Lonsdale acknowledged, this hypothesis still needs to be evaluated through research.
In a letter to Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, the medical journal that published Bagers study , I offered a different hypothesis that builds on two other recent studies of high-dose thiamine.
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What Is Benfotiamine Used For
Thiamine deficiency is rare in the United States.
You may be at risk if your diet is:
- High in refined carbohydrates
- High in unfortified white flour products
- Low in whole grains
Medical conditions that may put you at risk include:
- Chronic diarrhea
Little research exists to support these uses.
Some research supports its use for diabetic neuropathy and Alzheimer’s disease.
Side Effects And Risks Of Vitamin B
B vitamins are water-soluble. This means that, most of the time, the body excretes extra B vitamins in the urine.
While a standard dosage does not seem to cause harm, excessively high doses of certain B vitamins can be dangerous. Speak with a clinician before taking very high doses of B-complex supplements.
Possible side effects of B-complex vitamins:
- High blood sugar. High doses of nicotinic acid, a synthetic form of vitamin B3, can raise blood sugar levels. This can interfere with diabetes medications. People with diabetes or high blood sugar should not take high doses of nicotinic acid .
- Excess nicotinic acid. Too much nicotinic acid can also cause low blood pressure, fatigue, headaches, rashes, and liver damage.
- Excess nicotinamide. High doses of nicotinamide, another form of vitamin B3, can cause diarrhea and increased bleeding. This can occur in doses of 500 mg per day. Doses higher than 3,000 mg can cause vomiting and liver damage.
- Excess folic acid. Taking more than 1,000 mcg of folic acid a day can mask a type of anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.
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.
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Cautions With Other Medicines
It’s generally safe to take thiamine while you’re taking other medicines.
However, check with a doctor before starting on thiamine if you’re on fluorouracil, a medicine used to treat some types of cancer.
Fluorouracil can interfere with the way thiamine works. The doctor may need to adjust your dose of thiamine.
Choosing The Proper Vitamin B
A health care provider could advocate a sure sort of this complement, relying on an individuals well being wants.
Some vitamin and complement corporations use unbiased high quality testing of their merchandise. People who move could have a seal of approval from an unbiased testing group.
This seal doesnt assure that the product is 100-percent protected or efficient for everybody, nevertheless it implies that the product incorporates whats listed on the label with out contaminants.
Some testing organizations and their certifications embody:
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What Are The Natural Sources Of Vitamin B
Vitamin B is naturally found in animal-based products, such as chicken, fish, meats and dairy products. Other natural sources of vitamin B include wholewheat bread, green leafy vegetables, nuts and yeast.
Some B vitamins are added to food. For example, vitamin B9 is added to wheat flour used in bread, and B12 is added to plant-based vegetarian meat alternatives.
Because many proteins contain vitamin B, watch your protein intake. Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend the following:
- Female adults should eat 2 to 2.5 serves of protein daily.
- Male adults should eat 2.5 to 3 serves of protein daily.
On average, each of the following is 1 serve:
- 65 grams lean red meat
- 80 grams salmon
Go here for more information on foods high in vitamin B.
What Are Dosages Of Thiamine
Dosages of Thiamine:
- Infants 0-6 months: 0.2 mg/day
- Infants 6-12 months: 0.3 mg/day
- Children 1-3 years old: 0.5 mg/day
- Children 3-8 years old: 0.6 mg/day
- Children 8-13 years old: 0.9 mg/day
- Children 13-18 years old: 1.2 mg/day , 1 mg/day
Deficiency
- 10-50 mg/day orally in divided doses
Beriberi
Adults
- Intramuscularly: 5-30 g three times daily then 5-30 mg three times daily for 1 month
- Duration dependent on the persistence of symptoms
Pediatric
- 10-25 mg intravenously/intramuscularly per day or 10-50 mg dose orally per day for at least 2 weeks, then 5-10 mg/day orally for 1 month
- Duration dependent on the persistence of symptoms
Wernicke Encephalopathy
- 100 mg intravenously then 50-100 mg/day intramuscularly or intravenously until consuming a regular balanced diet
Thiamin Deficiency
- tightness of the throat
This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.
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Reduces The Risk Of Birth Defects
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , folic acid can help reduce birth defects, including spina bifida and anencephaly. A baby is diagnosed with spina bifida when its spine doesnt develop correctly, which can ultimately lead to severe physical disabilities. Anencephaly is equally as serious, as its a condition in which the babys brain and skull do not form correctly. To prevent these serious birth defects, the CDC recommends that pregnant women take a vitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid daily.
What To Look For
Benfotiamine supplements are widely available online and in stores specializing in supplements.
When choosing one, review the Supplement Facts label. It’ll tell you about any fillers, binders, or flavorings. It also says how much of the active ingredient it contains.
Look for a seal of approval from a third-party quality-testing organization. A major one is ConsumerLab. This ensures the product contains the listed ingredients and no harmful contaminants. A seal of approval doesn’t guarantee the product’s safety or effectiveness.
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Indicators Of Vitamins B Scarcities
Neurotropic B vitamins play crucial roles as coenzymes and beyond in the nervous system. Particularly vitamin B1 , B6 , and B12 contribute essentially to the maintenance of a healthy nervous system. Taking into consideration the present information on the neurotropic vitamins B1, B6 and B12, it is ultimate that a biological interaction come to be obvious in several diverse passageways in nervous system, mainly in the PNS as illustrated by their collective usage in the management of peripheral neuropathy . This is significant to start bearing in mind about B vitamins as a therapeutic and neuroprotective tactic for peripheral neuropathies and several brain disorders equally, in forthcoming medical studies. Table 1, provides an overview on the major implications in overlapping biochemical pathways important for the nervous system, pointing to a synergistic effect as a logical consequence of these overlaps.
Choosing The Right Vitamin B
A doctor may recommend a certain type of this supplement, depending on a persons health needs.
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 100% safe or effective for everyone. However, it means that the product contains what is listed on the label without contaminants.
Some testing organizations and their certifications include:
- ConsumerLab.coms approved quality product seal
- NSF Internationals dietary supplement certification
- the verified mark of the United States Pharmacopeial Convention
In most cases, vitamin B does not interact negatively with other medications. However, certain medications can make a vitamin B deficiency more likely.
These are some examples of medications that can result in low levels of specific B vitamins:
- Blood pressure drugs and chemotherapy drugs can lower a persons B1 levels.
- Antiseizure medications used for epilepsy can lower B3, B6, and B9 levels.
- Drugs that treat tuberculosis can cause low levels of B3 and B6.
- Certain cancer drugs can lower B9 levels.
- Certain drugs that treat ulcerative colitis can cause low levels of vitamin B9.
- Certain antibiotics and medications for ulcers, diabetes, or gastroesophageal reflux disease , may lower B12 levels.
Some foods contain several B vitamins, and a person needs a varied diet to consume all eight.
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Vitamin And Mineral Guide For Arthritis
Learn about key vitamins and minerals and which ones are especially important when you have arthritis.
Vitamins and minerals play a critical role in staying healthy, but getting enough of certain nutrients is even more important when you have arthritis. This guide provides thorough research of key vitamins and minerals to help you figure out what you may be missing. But remember: While some supplements may help arthritis symptoms, nothing can substitute doctor-prescribed medications, a healthy diet and exercise. Always talk to your doctor before adding a new supplement, vitamin or mineral to your regimen. Just because something is natural doesnt mean it cant cause side effects or interact with medications. For more tips on choosing safe supplements, read this article.
Calcium
What it does: Calcium is an essential mineral thatmaintains strong bones and teeth regulates muscle contractions transmits nerve impulses and helps release essential hormones and enzymes. It also helps prevent osteoporosis and fractures, which are higher risks among people with rheumatoid arthritis and those taking corticosteroids.
How much:Experts recommend 1,200 mg a day for healthy adults, but people with inflammatory arthritis may need more up to 1,500 mg for men and postmenopausal women. Recent research has debunked the claim that calcium supplements raise heart attack risk.
Too much:Tolerable upper limit = 2,500 mg.
Chromium
Too much:No tolerable upper limit has been determined.
Iron
May Protect Your Lungs Liver And Kidneys
Vitamin U may safeguard your lungs, liver, and kidneys from damage.
In an animal study, vitamin U helped reverse some of the liver damage caused by the common anti-seizure medication valproic acid .
In another study, rats given vitamin U experienced less severe kidney damage after receiving valproic acid than those given no vitamin U. This substance also appeared to reduce markers of inflammation (
Still, human studies are necessary.
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For Those Who Pregnant
B vitamins are especially important for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. These vitamins aid in fetal brain development, and they reduce the risk of birth defects.
For people who are expecting, B vitamins may help manage energy levels, ease nausea, and lower the risk of developing preeclampsia.
Warning Disclaimer Use For Publication
WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health.
DISCLAIMER: All material available on eHealthMe.com is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. All information is observation-only. Our phase IV clinical studies alone cannot establish cause-effect relationship. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. The use of the eHealthMe site and its content is at your own risk.
If you use this eHealthMe study on publication, please acknowledge it with a citation: study title, URL, accessed date.
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Side Effects Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Along with its needed effects, cyanocobalamin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking cyanocobalamin:
Incidence not known
- swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
- tightness in the chest
How Does Vitamin B1 Promote Good Health
Boosts energy production. When sugar mixes with vitamin B1, it becomes energy for your body to use. B1 helps make this process faster while supporting the other enzymes.
Reduces the effects of sepsis. Sepsis, a severe response to an infection, can become fatal if your vitamin B1 levels are low. Alon with vitamin C, thiamine can reduce the effects of sepsis. It can also lower the risk of kidney failure that often results from the infection.
Helps fight depression. Taking vitamin B1 supplements along with an antidepressant is good for depression. Vitamin B1 helps ease symptoms faster while stabilizing your mood. Lack of vitamin B1 has also been linked to low moods.
Good for diabetes. If you have diabetes, think about getting more thiamine. Studies show that high blood sugar and insulin levels improve after taking vitamin B1 for 6 weeks. B1 also helps reduce high blood pressure and heart complications in people with diabetes.
Prevents kidney and circulation problems. A dose of vitamins B1 and B12 can help improve nerve pain in people with diabetes and may reduce the need for painkillers.
Minimizes the risk of heart disease. Thiamine is key to the production of acetylcholine. This is the element that helps your body pass messages between its nerves and muscles. Without this communication, your heart wouldnât work the way it should. Lack of vitamin B1 is one reason for uneven cardiac function.â
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