Neurohacking 413: B Vitamins
The most complex molecule within the B vitamin stack is cobalamine (Vitamin B12) with cobalt. Key for Red Blood Cell health, DNA, neuron health and low probability of overdosing on it (e.g. LD).
Note: This is not medical advice, I am not a medical doctor, but a photoelectrochemical engineer with biochemistry and genetics (PCR amplification, electrophoresis, gene guns, etc.) background that spent some time studying at Singularity University (SU) at NASA Ames in 2013, Ray Kurzweil founder of (SU). Technically, these days with bioenergetics having a background like mine is advantageous with respect to preventative countermeasures for personal health R&D. Below is an open lab notebook for my personal R&D with insights and a cognitive conundrums with thorough medical publication references. This is not medical advice.
Quick Facts:
Our bodies do not make vitamin B12, cobalamine, which is only essential mineral we need that has “cobalt” attached to it. Ironically we have to get it from an animal based food diet (weird huh, that’s why animals were put here on earth for us to eat). This is quite the conundrum in my opinion and apparently, as we are mammals, but we have to get B12 from other mammals and animals. This B12 conundrum also caught the attention of Discover Magazine [1].
Required for Red Blood Cell formation
Required for DNA formation
Required for central nervous system and brain maintenance (e.g. neurons).
Required for energy production as a coenzyme in mitochondrial function. [2]
Upper Intake Level (UL) has not been established for B12. “Although there is some evidence that very high doses of B12 may cause adverse health effects in certain populations, megadoses of this vitamin are commonly used to safely and effectively treat B12 deficiency.” [2]
Image Source [4]
Abstract from (verbatim, but itemized from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16765926/ [3]
The B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins required as coenzymes for enzymes essential for cell function.
This review focuses on their essential role in maintaining mitochondrial function and on how mitochondria are compromised by a deficiency of any B vitamin.
Thiamin (B1) is essential for the oxidative decarboxylation of the multienzyme branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes of the citric acid cycle.
Riboflavin (B2) is required for the flavoenzymes of the respiratory chain.
NADH is synthesized from niacin (B3) and is required to supply protons for oxidative phosphorylation.
Pantothenic acid (B5) is required for coenzyme A formation and is also essential for alpha-ketoglutarate and pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes as well as fatty acid oxidation.
Biotin (B7) is the coenzyme of decarboxylases required for gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation.
Pyridoxal (B6), folate and cobalamin (B12) properties are reviewed elsewhere in this issue.
The experimental animal and clinical evidence that vitamin B therapy alleviates B deficiency symptoms and prevents mitochondrial toxicity is also reviewed.
The effectiveness of B vitamins as antioxidants preventing oxidative stress toxicity is also reviewed.
References
[1] https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/the-evolutionary-quirk-that-made-vitamin-b12-part-of-our-diet
[2] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/too-much-vitamin-b12#helpful-or-harmful
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16765926/
[4] Nutritional properties and enhancement/biofortification of potatoes, August 2018, DOI:10.19103/AS.2017.0016.09