Did you know that we need various B vitamins for optimal function? Our IV therapy Toronto providers recommend these doses of vitamins for several health goals, especially for energy production and cognitive function.. 

So, what exactly are these vitamins? And which health benefits do they offer as a supplement? The Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC) explains below. 

What are B complex vitamins?

There are eight different B vitamins and they all hold unique tasks in the human body. When you read “B complex” on a product label, this means that the formulation includes all of the B vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), as well as B12 (hydroxocobalamin). They’re a group of water-soluble nutrients, which means the body cannot stockpile these vitamins (except for B12) for future use; instead, they need to be replenished on a daily basis.  

B vitamins affect cellular functioning and have significant roles linked to the functioning of nerves and brain function. B nutrient deficiencies can impact people on a cellular level, and deficiency symptoms can vary due to the type of B vitamin you’re lacking. For example, if you’re lacking B9 (folate/folic acid), you might get a swollen tongue; meanwhile, B6 deficiencies sometimes result in poor immune function. But generally speaking, lacking B vitamins can make people tired, cause poor skin health, and slow down muscle recovery. It can also hinder red blood cell production and potentially cause anemia. 

Thus, regular supplementation can come with health benefits. This can prevent cellular damage and a B-vitamin nutritional deficiency, while helping to maintain much-needed energy, muscle function, and more. 

B Complex’s Beneficial effects

Ongoing vitamin B supplementation can foster different positive effects to your health. It may also help with the following: 

• • Supports immune health and the appearance of skin: According to StatPearls, “In addition to boosting energy, [B2] functions as an antioxidant for the proper functioning of the immune system, healthy skin, and hair.” 
  • Aids in anemia prevention: Anemia is a condition in which your body cannot build healthy red blood cells; this causes a lack of oxygen to the blood cells, which can instigate low energy levels and weakness. A B12 deficiency can cause this, which is why the body thrives with this vitamin intake.  
  • Also supports cardiovascular health: According to a Korean study published in the journal Nutrients, increased amounts of B6 have been linked to a reduction in risks for heart disease.
  • Helps with the conversion of food to energy: All B vitamins contribute to energy production in the human body. B vitamins support metabolic processes by facilitating enzymatic chemical reactions. This helps transition the food you eat into much-needed energy.  
  • Promotes a healthy pregnancy: Folic acid (vitamin B9) is a necessity during pregnancy, as it helps prevent defects in the fetus, while helping to facilitate fetal growth. 
  • May reduce stress and/or symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome: Vitamin B5 helps regulate cortisol, which is known as the “stress hormone”. Furthermore, a report from Molecular Medicine stated concluded that, “High doses of oral thiamine (B1) improve clinical fatigue scores in patients with quiescent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic fatigue.”

Nourishing your body with nutrients, such as B vitamins, may require tailoring, as everyone has different genetics, health goals, lifestyles, and such. Thus, we recommend speaking to a functional medicine healthcare provider to personalize a treatment plan.

Suggested Reading: The Functional Medicine Toronto Approach To Surviving The Winter Blues

What to expect at your TFMC consultation

In our clinic, we can address various health concerns, from the healing of scars and mental clarity to blood sugar levels and digestive issues. If your symptoms suggest a B-vitamin deficiency, we may discuss these components for determining your “next steps”: 

• • Your current dietary intake of nutrients: We will likely ask about your current diet. Do you eat mainly processed items? These types of foods can result in vitamin deficiencies due to their lack of nutrition. We may advise you to transition to a healthy diet like  the Mediterranean Diet or eat more vitamin B-rich foods, such as leafy greens, salmon, dairy, legumes, or yogurt. 

• • Functional medicine lab testing: To confirm your deficiency, a personalized nutritional assessment may be conducted. This can measure for biomarkers to see if you require extra B vitamins, as well as amino acids, major minerals, and antioxidants. These lab results help us tailor your treatment plan. 
  • Oral supplementation and/or intravenous therapy: We may advise on supplementing with a B complex or a specific B vitamin (this depends on your lab test results). If you have issues with malabsorption, we can prescribe IV nutrient therapy, which can assure you absorb your full doses of vitamin B’s. When merged with other treatments (i.e. conventional medicine, naturopathy) and lifestyle modifications, IV vitamin therapy can offer health upgrades. Click here to read more about our intravenous infusion drips from our IV Lounge. 

How can we improve your wellness with key nutrients? The TFMC is currently accepting new patients. Please contact us for assistance with your wellness journey. 

Join our IV Lounge as a new patient

If you’re pursuing upgrades to your energy levels, brain function, athletic performance or other healthy beneficial effects, we can offer help. 

Integrative functional medicine is a health care model we follow to focus on your uniqueness. By tailoring treatments with personalized therapies and doses of nutrients, the TFMC targets your biological needs only, such as mineral deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, food sensitivities, brain fog, and more. We customize various treatment methods for your biology, including acupuncture, Western/allopathic treatments, naturopathic medicine, hormone replacement therapies, and other modalities. 

Adjunctive intravenous therapy can be prescribed for your TFMC health plan – this is dispensed with your regular daily oral supplementation. IV therapy drips can foster optimal health when they’re combined with healthy practices and other treatment modalities. These are administered in our IV Lounge, where sessions are overseen by our wellness team (a medical doctor, naturopathic doctor, nurse practitioners and registered nurses). 

To get a custom-made IV drip from our IV Lounge, an initial consultation is mandatory. This session is needed to discuss possible  allergies and lab testing for nutrient deficiencies. Once we’ve collected pertinent information, we can modify your IV drip. A wide range of natural ingredients are available in our Lounge for IV therapy treatments, including ascorbic acid (high-dose vitamin C drip), alpha lipoic acid, amino acids, vitamin A, vitamin E, glutamic acid, vitamin B6 and other B vitamins, and more. Vitamin D injections are also available. 

We believe in your potential to reach optimal functioning – this is why we recognize your individuality with personalized therapies! How do your nutrient levels measure up? Contact us and we can assess your health status with our functional lab services. Click here to call us for more information. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

“15 Healthy Foods High in B Vitamins”, Healthline, medically reviewed by Amy Richter, RD, Nutrition, by Marsha McCulloch, MS, RD, updated on January 24, 2023, viewed on December 19, 2023. 

Bager, P., Hvas, C.L., Hansen, M.M. et al. B-vitamins, related vitamers, and metabolites in patients with quiescent inflammatory bowel disease and chronic fatigue treated with high dose oral thiamine. Mol Med 29, 143 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-023-00741-3

Chen YS, Lee HF, Tsai CH, Hsu YY, Fang CJ, Chen CJ, Hung YH, Hu FW. Effect of Vitamin B2 supplementation on migraine prophylaxis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Neurosci. 2022 Sep;25(9):1801-1812. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2021.1904542. Epub 2021 Mar 29. PMID: 33779525.

Hanna M, Jaqua E, Nguyen V, Clay J. B Vitamins: Functions and Uses in Medicine. Perm J. 2022 Jun 29;26(2):89-97. doi: 10.7812/TPP/21.204. Epub 2022 Jun 17. PMID: 35933667; PMCID: PMC9662251.

Jeon J, Park K. Dietary Vitamin B6 Intake Associated with a Decreased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study. Nutrients. 2019; 11(7):1484. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11071484

LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-. Vitamin B. [Updated 2021 May 27]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548710/

Mazur-Bialy AI, Pochec E, Plytycz B. Immunomodulatory effect of riboflavin deficiency and enrichment – reversible pathological response versus silencing of inflammatory activation. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2015 Dec;66(6):793-802. PMID: 26769828.

Suwannasom N, Kao I, Pruß A, Georgieva R, Bäumler H. Riboflavin: The Health Benefits of a Forgotten Natural Vitamin. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jan 31;21(3):950. doi: 10.3390/ijms21030950. PMID: 32023913; PMCID: PMC7037471.

Thau L, Gandhi J, Sharma S. Physiology, Cortisol. [Updated 2023 Aug 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538239/