B Vitamins – Niacin, Pyridoxine and Biotin
Niacin (nicotinic acid) is one of vitamin B. This compound is part of an enzyme system regulating reduction reactions in the body. It is also a compound that dilates blood vessels. Deficiency of niacin causes pellagra (a disease that causes diarrhea, dermatitis, nervous disorders, and sometimes death). The requirement for niacin is about ten times that for thiamin. Beef, hog and lamb livers are excellent sources of niacin. Other organs and the musculature of these animals are good to fair sources.
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) is part of the enzyme system that remove CO2 from the acid group (COOH) of certain amino acids and transfers amine groups (NH2) from one compound to another in the body. It is also needed for the utilization of certain amino acids. Deficiency manifestations are dermatitis around the eyes, eyebrows, and angles of the mouth. They may so be a sensory neuritis and a decrease in certain white blood cells and increase in others. Bananas, barley, beef and beef organs, cabbage, raw carrots, yellow corn, lamb and the organs of lamb, malt ,molasses, peanuts, pork and the organs of hogs, potatoes, rice, salmon, sardine, tomatoes, tuna, wheat bran and germ, flour and yams are goods to excellent source of pyridoxine.
Biotin is reported to be a coenzyme in the synthesis of aspartic acid, which plays a part in a deaminase system and in other processes involving the fixation of carbon dioxide. Deficiency of this compound is unusual, but can be demonstrated by the feeding of raw egg white, which contains the substance, avidin, which ties up biotin. Deficiencies of biotin cause scaling skin, skin lesion and a deterioration of nerve fibers. Due to the production of biotin by microbiological flora of the intestine, the requirement for this compound is not known, Liver is an excellent source of biotin, and peanut, peas, beans, and whole cooked eggs are good sources.
B Vitamins – Niacin, Pyridoxine and Biotin
