Multi - First - 100 V-Caps - Health First

Health First Multi-First

A complete daily supplement first among multi-vitamins! Health First’s exclusive Multi-First is an excellent everyday high potency formula. Contains 50 mg/mcg of all the important B vitamins together with natural vitamin E and chelated minerals. Multi-First also features an all-natural phytonutrient base that includes bioflavonoids, grape seed extract and quercetin for added antioxidant protection and digestive factors to help your body absorb the nutrients in Multi-First. Try it today!

B Vitamins

B1
Thiamine is synthesized by bacteria, fungus and plants and therefore animals must obtain via diet. Thiamine is known to enhance blood circulation to the brain and nerve cells. Severe deficiency of thiamine can result in what is known as Beri Beri, a disease characterized by severe deficiencies in the peripheral nervous system (neuritis), as well as cardiovascular deficiency. Beri Beri can be fatal if not addressed. Thaimine also regulates muscle activity, ensuring proper tone of the digestive tract and heart. It is also a potent antioxidant. It aids in the formation of blood cells, as well as stomach acid (for proper digestion). Less severe thiamine deficiency can lead to weight loss, irritability, confusion and general malaise. Thiamine levels are depleted by heavy alcohol consumption, as well as heavy caffeine and sugar intake. Antibiotics, sulfa drugs, oral contraceptives and anti-seizure medications, such as dilantin, can also deplete thiamine levels.

B2
Riboflavin plays an integral role in cellular respiration and growth. "Flavins" are enzymes that speed up chemical reactions that are responsible for energy production in the body. Riboflavin, like many of the B vitamins plays an important role in supporting the body in its digestion of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. It also joins thiamine in supporting the formation of blood cells. Riboflavin plays an essential part of the immune response in that it supports the formation of antibodies. It has been effectively used for muscle pain relief, as well as in migraine relief (often in combination with magnesium and CoQ10). Riboflavin is the only vitamin that can colour urine, as it is responsible for the bright yellow colour that many notice after ingestion of a multi or B complex vitamin. Signs of Riboflavin deficiency include angular cheilitis (cracks at the corners of the mouth), photophobia, mouth ulcers and inflammation of the tongue and mucosal membranes of the mouth, as well as scrotal dermatitis in men. Many individuals low in riboflavin will first notice deficiencies in growth of hair and nails. Carpal tunnel like symptoms may also be observed. Riboflavin is necessary for the prevention of birth defects in the developing fetus and therefore included in all prenatal vitamin combinations. Riboflavin is very easily destroyed by light and is easily degraded in clear containers (think clear plastic milk bags). High dosages of Riboflavin may interfere with the action of some cancer medications.

B3
Niacin, or B3 is one of the better known and studied B vitamins, primarily for its use in cardiovascular disease, namely lowering cholesterol levels, as well as its support of the nervous system. Niacin has been used in higher dosages to treat a variety of mental illness, including schizophrenia. The body can produce Niacin from Tryptophan (in the diet), along with the help of B1, B2 and B6. Niacin causes the release of histamine, which then dilates blood vessels, helpful for those with compromised circulation, as in cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It also has a separate effect of helping to regulate blood sugar. Niacin plays a role in the formation of bile salts and stomach acid, also allowing it to aid in the digestion of carbohydrates, protein and fats. Being so integrally involved in the chemical reactions that metabolize fats in the body is what makes niacin so effective in lowering cholesterol levels. Niacin causes what is known as a flush in many individuals, characterized by . Taking niacin on a full stomach and slowly increasing the dosage, are two methods of reducing its flushing action. Nicotinomide, (Niacinamide) often used interchangeably with niacin, does not have the same pharmacological effects as niacin. It does not cause flushing, but it also has very little to no effect on cholesterol levels and can be very toxic to the liver in dosages above 400-500 mg/day. It is often marketed as time released niacin. Inositol hexanicotinate (IHN) is inositol that has been esterfied to niacin and is also non-flushing. Research is mixed when it comes to using IHN to treat dyslipidemia, however. Sulfa drugs, estrogen replacement therapy, alcohol and sleeping pills can all interfere with niacin levels in the body. Antiobiotics are known to worsen the flushing effect of niacin. When taking high doses of any form of niacin (>500 mg/day) liver function tests should be performed by your healthcare professional on a regular basis.

B6
B6 is involved in more processes in the body than any other one single nutrient. There are 6 different forms of B6, including the most active form, pyridoxal 5 phosphate (P5P). The liver is the site of B6 metabolism. B6 plays a huge role in amino acid metabolism, as well as gluconeogenesis, the production of glucose from glycogen in the liver, as well as metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. B6 also plays a large part in neurotransmitter synthesis, as well as the synthesis of histamine and hemoglobin. It is required for the production of such neurotransmitters/neurochemicals as serotonin and GABA, which can have a calming effec on the body. This explains its effectiveness in neurological disorders like Autism, as well as hormonally related depression and nausea (in PMS and pregnancy). B6, along with folic acid and B12 all play a role in lowering homocysteine levels in the body, thought to be responsible in part for an increase in atherosclerosis in some individuals. The classic clinical signs of B6 deficiency include neurological symptoms, including somnolence, confusion, and neuropathy, intertrigo, sebborheic dermatitis-like eruptions and angular cheilitis. A deficiency of B6 alone is rare, and often occurs in combination with other B vitamins. The elderly and alcoholics have an increased risk of B6 deficiency.

B12
Cobalamin is available in 3 common forms, methycobalamin, hydroxycobalamin and cyanocobalamin. Methylcobalamin has a better bioavilability (easier for the body to use) than the cyanocobalamin form of B12. Hydroxycobalamin is thought to fall somewhere in the middle. The body can store up to a five year supply of vitamin B12, meaning deficiencies can be hidden for several years. B12 is especially important in areas such as the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system and bone marrow, primarily where there is high cell turnover. B12, along with folic acid, regulates blood cell production and plays a huge role in the prevention of anemia. B12 deficiency leads to a type of anemia called macrocytic anemia, in which the red blood cells are too large. B12 is required for digestion, fertility and the normal growth and development of all cells. It enhances learning and memory and normalizes sleep patterns. High levels of B12 in the elderly may help protect against the development of brain atrophy associated with Alzheimer's disease. Deficiency of intrinsic factor in the stomach results in an inability to absorb B12. Sublingual supplementation of B12 eliminates the need for intrinsic factor. B12 is also often administered IM. There are a variety of commonly used medications that can interfere with B12 levels in the body. Antibiotics, oral contraceptives, metformin, gout and anti-coagulant medications, H2 blockers, sedatives, proton pump inhibitors can all interfere with and reduce B12 absorption. Alcohol and nicotine, as well as potassium supplementation can also deplete B12 levels. B12 cannot be found in plant sources, making supplementation important for those following a vegan diet.