The Importance of Vitamins H and J

Doc Rick says, "Appreciating the different nutrients and understanding their importance to your health is valuable, if you choose to be healthy.”

Vitamins H and J: Understanding The Importance Of Them

As we move further into the alphabet, we come across the next two letters that do have representation in the vitamin classification.  Vitamin H is also known as Biotin, referred to as vitamin H and is part of the vitamin B complex group and might be interesting to some people since one of the most visible symptoms of shortage of this vitamin is thinning of the hair, which can lead to total hair loss.

This does not mean that baldness is a sign of vitamin H in short supply -- severe hair loss might just be an indication of biotin being deficient.

Vitamin H - biotin - is required for

Vitamin H is used in cell growth, the production of fatty acids, metabolism of fats, and proteins.  It plays a role in the Krebs Cycle, which is the process in which energy is released from food.

Biotin is also indicated for healthy hair and skin, healthy sweat glands, nerve tissue, and bone marrow, and assisting with muscle pain.

Vitamin H not only assists in various metabolic chemical conversions, but also helps with the transfer of carbon dioxide.  Biotin is also helpful in maintaining a steady blood sugar level.

Deficiency of vitamin H -- Biotin 

Although a shortage of Biotin is very rare, it can happen and may result in dry scaly skin, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, mental depression as well as tongue inflammation and high cholesterol.

Dosage

The dosage underneath is the (RDA), but be aware that this dosage is the minimum that you require per day, to ward off serious deficiency of this particular nutrient.  In the therapeutic use of this nutrient, the dosage is usually increased considerably, but the toxicity level must be kept in mind.

Adults 300 microgram (0.3 mg) per day and pregnant and lactating women 300 microgram (0.3 mg) per day.

Toxicity and Symptoms of High Intake

No known toxic levels are known, as excesses are easily lost in the urine and feces.  No known side effects are known.

Best used with

Biotin should be taken as part of the whole B complex, and should only be given additional if a true deficiency exists.  Vitamin C, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B-12 and Sulfur are good companions to it.  A tricologist will sometimes add biotin to the diet of a patient suffering from alopecia, to help with severe hair loss, but it must be in the right quantities and associated with the rest of the B Complex to satisfy the inter-dependence of other nutrients.

When More Biotin May Be Required

Bodybuilders and athletes consuming raw eggs should be careful of not running into biotin shortage, since raw eggs contain avidin, which binds to biotin, making it impossible to be absorbed by the body.

Individuals with chronic long term users of antibiotics may also have to look at their biotin levels.

Other Interesting Points

It seems that biotin may affect hair color, together with PABA, folic acid and pantathenic acid.  Some research had varying results with biotin supplements in returning hair to its original color.

This has proved only successful to a limited degree and only when natural vitamins were used, as the synthetic vitamins did not influence the results very much.

Food Sources

Biotin is present in Eggs, Beef Liver, cauliflower, mushrooms, cheese, chicken breasts, salmon, spinach, Brewer's Yeast, nuts and can be manufactured in the body should a small shortfall occur.

Vitamin J

Vitamin J is an old term for Choline.  The term "vitamin J" was also used by some researchers to denote vitamin C2, Chatechol (flavin), a bioflavinoid found in the vitamin C  Complex.  Choline assists in fat metabolism.  It supports the action of bile salts by reducing the surface tension of fat particles, making them more easily emulsified by the bile salts.

Choline is a quaternary amine, often classified as a member of the B vitamin complex; it occurs in phosphatidylcholine and acetylcholine, is an important methyl donor in intermediary metabolism, and prevents the deposition of fat in the liver.

One would need this product, Choline, if you have extreme difficulty digesting fat foods.  Anyone who has venous congestion, hemorrhoids, constipation or a pasty complexion due to incomplete fat digestion, is likely to need Choline in their diet.  People who experience "food poisoning" and find themselves with an upset stomach and feel the need to throw-up, or who suddenly get diarrhea a couple of hours after eating a meal would benefit from some Choline.  Taken every 30 to 60 minutes until the symptoms of nausea and the need to vomit have passed, Choline will help to clear these symptoms pretty quickly.  Then one would want to continue using the Choline for the next several meals until the gallbladder route has been flushed out completely.

The Benefits Of Vitamin J

Choline serves various functions in the body--in the structure of cell membranes, protecting our livers from accumulating fat, and as the precursor molecule for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and more.  Choline has been associated with normal brain development in fetuses and infants, and may help prevent memory loss associated with aging. Choline has been shown to protect the liver from certain types of damage, and can help reverse damage that has already occurred.  Additionally it may help to lower cholesterol and homocysteine levels associated with cardiovascular disease, and may help protect against some types of cancers.

Sources of Vitamin J

Beef Liver, Whole eggs, Ground beef, Cauliflower, Navy beans, Tofu, Almonds and Peanut butter.

Is It Possible To Get Too Much Choline?

Actually yes.  The tolerable Upper Intake level for adults has been set at 3.5 grams (3500 mgs) per day.  Above this, adverse effects can include low blood pressure, diarrhea, and fishy body odor.

 My Offer To You

If you feel you may be deficient in either vitamin H or vitamin J, you should come into the office and let me evaluate them for you.  Simply call the Office at (845)561-BACK (2225) and tell us to put you in for the H and J Check.  During the month of August, it is included in your next regularly scheduled office visit.  Normally this is a $75.00 value.  And during the Month of August, I will include this H and J Check for FREE!  But you must call The Office and schedule your appointment.  So call the Office TODAY and do just that, schedule your appointment.  But don't wait, because September and Back To School is right around the corner.  Schedule this appointment TODAY!