Coenzymated B Vitamin Complex
B Vitamin coenzyme is an activated and more powerful form of Vitamin B complex.

B Vitamin Supplement Facts:
Amount Per Serving
Vitamin C - 9 mg
Thiamin - 6 mg - [Coenzymated B vitamin 1]
Riboflavin - 6 mg -  [Coenzymated B vitamin 2]
Niacin - 20 mg
   (from inositol 34 mg, niacinamide ascorbate 30 mg, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide 10 mg [Coenzymated])
Vitamin B 6 - 5 mg
   (from 15 mg pyridoxal -5-phosphate [Coenzymated])
Folate (as folic acid) - 200 mcg
Vitamin B12 - 340 mcg
   (from 1 mg dibencozide [Coenzymated])
Biotin - 75 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 13 mg
   (as calcium D-Pantothenate)
Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) - 6 mg
Inositol (inositol hexanicotinate) - 4 mg

Click Vitamin B Coenzyme to purchase, or to see a complete list of other products at Physician Formulas, including Mind Power Rx

In addition to discussing the B vitamins, this page will review coenzymes—the new, more activated forms of the B vitamins—and make recommendations on how to reduce levels of homocysteine, an amino acid derivative that can be harmful to the cardiovascular and neurological system when present in excess.

Benefits of B Vitamins
Since B vitamins and their coenzymes play important metabolic roles in numerous biochemical reactions throughout the body, they can influence just about every aspect of brain and physical health. As a rule, individuals who take B vitamins notice improvements in:

Mood and energy
Alertness
Learning and memory
Speed of thinking
Verbal fluency
Concentration and focus
Visual clarity

Which Clinical Conditions Do the Bs Benefit?
Because of their wide range of effects, B vitamins and their coenzymes can potentially be helpful in:
Elevated homocysteine levels
Depression natural treatment
Age related cognitive decline
Anxiety disorders
Addiction disorders
Chronic fatigue
Alzheimer’s disease
Parkinson’s disease

Triple Boost contains B vitamins another option is Coenzymated B Complex. Click Vitamin B complex for more information
 

The Bs in the Brain Get an A
B vitamins help in energy production and deficiencies lead to fatigue and poor mental functioning. The increased consumption of refined foods has decreased the amounts of B vitamins present in our diet. However, on the positive note, small amounts of B vitamins are regularly added to some food products, such as cereals. The question of whether B vitamin supplementation is necessary in healthy individuals who have a normal diet has been debated ever since vitamins were discovered. The results of several studies over the past few years have influenced my decision in favor of low dose supplementation. There can be cognitive improvements from taking B vitamins. Back in 1995, Dr. D. Benton and colleagues, from the University College Swansea, in Great Britain, gave ten times the recommended daily allowance of nine vitamins (mostly the B vitamins) to healthy college students (Benton 1995). The study lasted for one year. The students reported improvement in mood and feeling more agreeable. There was also an improvement in cognitive functioning, especially in regards to concentration. Many of my patients consistently report that B vitamin supplementation improves their energy, concentration and mood while helping them handle everyday stress better.

For otherwise healthy individuals, supplementation with one to three times the recommended daily allowance of the B vitamins is suggested. Higher dosages may be required for individuals with medical, psychiatric, or neurological disorders.

Understanding Coenzymes
In the past few years, many of the B vitamins have become available in their more activated forms known as coenzymes. For instance, the B vitamin niacin is now available in a coenzyme form known as NADH. An enzyme is basically a protein that promotes chemical changes in other substances, itself remaining unchanged in the process. A coenzyme is a substance that facilitates or is necessary for the action of an enzyme.

The brain, just like a car, needs fuel. Our primary source of fuel is through fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in the diet. After digestion in the stomach, foodstuffs are absorbed into the bloodstream and circulate to various tissues and cells where they are broken down into even smaller particles. One of these particles is a two-carbon molecule known as acetyl. Enzymes help break down these fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into acetyl and they then help extract the final energy from acetyl through a process called the Krebs cycle, named after the German biochemist who defined it. This energy is in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Enzymes also need helpers, and these helpers are called coenzymes. Most of the coenzymes in the body are partly made from vitamins, such as vitamins E, C, lipoic acid, and riboflavin (vitamin B2).

The coenzyme form of a B vitamin often has a significantly more powerful effect than a regular B vitamin. The coenzyme forms of the B vitamins are an exiting addition to the field of nutrition. It is quite possible that the elderly or certain individuals with a particular biochemical deficiency may not be able to make adequate amounts of the coenzyme forms of the B vitamins despite adequate intakes of the individual B vitamins. Hence, the coenzyme forms should be seriously considered in those who do not respond to the regular B vitamins. Some companies include most of the Bs in their coenzyme form together in one pill. I think these products deserve serious consideration, especially for their use in the middle aged and the elderly.

The Individual B Vitamins and Their Coenzymes:

Thiamin (B1) is necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary source of energy in the human body. Thiamin is found in good amounts in milk, lean pork, legumes, rice bran, and the germ of cereal grains, but is lost during food processing and cooking. The current recommended daily allowance (RDA) by government advisory panels is about 1.5 mg.

Studies indicate that supplementation with thiamin provides cognitive benefits. Dr. Benton and colleagues gave 50 mg of thiamin daily to young adult females for a period of two months (Benton 1997). The women reported being more clearheaded, composed, and energetic. The taking of thiamin had no influence on memory but reaction times were faster following supplementation. Prior to taking the thiamin, the women had normal blood levels of this vitamin.

Researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand, measured thiamin levels in elderly individuals before giving them 10 mg of the vitamin a day (Wilkinson 1997). Only the subjects with low thiamin concentrations showed benefits. They had an improvement in quality of life with more energy and deeper sleep, along with decreased blood pressure and weight.

Thiamin is now sold in its coenzyme form called cocarboxylase or thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP). Human studies giving TPP to evaluate cognitive functioning have not yet been published.

Riboflavin (B2) is a yellow-colored nutrient involved in dozens of metabolic pathways leading to energy production and the making of fatty acids and sterols. Good sources are lean meats, eggs, milk, some vegetables and enriched cereals. The recommended daily intake is about 1.5 mg. You may notice your urine turning a deeper yellow color after taking riboflavin.

Riboflavin is part of two larger activated coenzymes known as flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN). FMN is now available as a supplement. One product contains 25 mg of FMN per pill. Human studies giving FAD or FMN in order to evaluate cognitive functioning have not yet been published.

Niacin (B3), also known as nicotinamide and nicotinic acid, plays essential roles in a large number of energy pathways. Perhaps as many as 200 enzymes are dependent on this nutrient. Nicotinamide is part of the coenzyme known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), which is sold as a supplement. I will discuss NADH later in this chapter since several studies have been published regarding this coenzyme. Good sources of niacin are meats, legumes, fish, and some nuts and cereals. The recommended daily intake is about 15 to 20 mg.

Vitamin B3 overdose
Niacin pills in high doses are sometimes taken by people to pass a urine drug test. However this method does not work and could produce severe side effects. University of Pennsylvania doctors discuss four individuals who took several niacin pills to try to beat their impending drug screening tests. Emergency room doctors discovered these individuals had liver toxicity, heart palpitations, skin reactions, nausea, dizziness and vomiting.

Recommendations
All of the B vitamins are important and supplementation would probably benefit most everyone. For healthy individuals, taking one to three times the RDA of the Bs would be sufficient. You will find B complex supplements that say B50 or B100 on the label. This means that many of the B vitamins, such as thiamin and riboflavin, are found in dosages of 50 or 100 mg per pill. The RDA for thiamin and riboflavin is about 1.5 mg. The average, healthy person does not need to take these high dosages. However, biochemical individuality certainly does exist. Dr. David Benton, Ph.D., who researches the influence of B vitamins on cognition says, "There can be enormous differences in the needs of vitamins. It wouldn’t be unusual for some individuals requiring 20 times the amount of a particular vitamin compared to others in a similar age group."