Are the B vitamins important for women’s health?
All B vitamins are important to a woman’s health. However, three vitamins in particular — vitamins B6 and B12 and folic acid — are especially important. These B vitamins are essential to brain function, red blood cell formation, and building DNA. In addition, if you’re pregnant, taking the B vitamin folic acid can significantly lower the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Poor eating habits, alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking, and oral contraceptives have all been linked to low blood levels of folic acid. Except among alcoholics or other severely malnourished people, deficiency of B vitamins is rare. When it does occur, B vitamin deficiency can cause irritability, depression, confusion. It can also cause inflammation of the tongue and mouth. Here’s information about these important B vitamins: • Vitamin B6 is also known as pyridoxine. It’s important for metabolism and also for brain function. Vitamin B6 deficiency can result in a form of anaemia. Although some older adul
