What is Chloride? Chloride is an essential mineral and electrolyte that carries a negative electrical charge, making it an anion. It's one of the most abundant minerals in the body and works closely with sodium and potassium to maintain proper fluid balance, pH levels, and electrical neutrality in
What is Calcium? Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body, with about 99% stored in bones and teeth, and the remaining 1% circulating in blood, muscles, and other tissues. It's an essential mineral, meaning your body cannot produce it and must obtain it through diet
What is PABA? PABA (Para-Aminobenzoic Acid) is an organic compound that was once considered part of the B-vitamin complex (sometimes called vitamin Bx or vitamin B10) but is no longer classified as a vitamin for humans. While it serves important functions in bacteria and some organisms, humans do not have
What is Inositol? Inositol is a naturally occurring compound that was once considered a B vitamin (referred to as vitamin B8) but is now classified as a pseudovitamin or vitamin-like substance. While not technically essential (the body can synthesize it from glucose), inositol serves critical functions in cellular signaling and
What is Choline? Choline is an essential nutrient that was officially recognized as such by the Institute of Medicine in 1998. While technically not a vitamin (the body can synthesize small amounts), it functions similarly to B vitamins and is often grouped with them. Most people cannot produce enough choline
What is Vitamin C? Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is a water-soluble vitamin and one of the most well-known and widely supplemented nutrients. Unlike most animals, humans cannot synthesize vitamin C and must obtain it from dietary sources. It's a powerful antioxidant and essential cofactor for numerous enzymatic reactions
What is Vitamin B12? Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin with the most complex chemical structure of all vitamins. It's unique among vitamins for containing the mineral cobalt (hence "cobalamin") and requiring an intricate absorption mechanism. B12 is found exclusively in animal-derived foods and is
What is Vitamin B9? Vitamin B9 is a water-soluble vitamin that exists in multiple forms, with significant differences between natural and synthetic versions. The term "folate" encompasses all forms of vitamin B9, but the specific forms have dramatically different properties and effects. Natural Forms (Folates): 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF): * The
What is Vitamin B7? Vitamin B7, commonly known as Biotin (also called Vitamin H), is a water-soluble B vitamin that serves as a coenzyme for carboxylase enzymes involved in essential metabolic processes. It’s perhaps most famous for its role in hair, skin, and nail health, though its metabolic functions
What is Vitamin B6? Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that exists in multiple forms, all of which can be converted to the active coenzyme form in the body. It's one of the most versatile vitamins, involved in over 100 enzymatic reactions. Natural Forms: Pyridoxine: * Most common: Predominant
What is Vitamin B5? Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) is a water-soluble vitamin whose name comes from the Greek word "pantos" meaning "everywhere," reflecting its widespread presence in foods. It's a critical component of Coenzyme A (CoA), one of the most important molecules in metabolism.
What is Vitamin B3? Vitamin B3 (Niacin) is a water-soluble vitamin that exists in multiple forms with significantly different properties and effects. It's unique among B vitamins for having distinctly different forms with different therapeutic applications. Main Forms: Nicotinic Acid (Niacin): * The "flush" form: Causes skin
