Does Vitamin B Increase Energy Metabolism - Assignment Example

? Does Vitamin B increase energy metabolism? Introduction The paper delves into discussingissues around a nutritional controversy. The issues around the controversy that will be put into perspective include the source that describes the controversy, scientific evidence that supports the controversy, and the scientific evidence that are not in support of the controversy. Finally, the paper will discuss trusted professional opinions as regards the controversies. Nutritional controversy The nutritional controversy being discussed in this chapter is the whether Vitamin B increases energy metabolism. Various pundits in the health sector have always held divergent opinions on the importance of vitamin B in increasing metabolism. Some say that vitamin B has critical components that boots metabolism and activity of the body (Sato and Murayama, 2011). While others say that vitamin is harmful, especially Vitamin B-12 because it affects the effectiveness of some kind of medication, other also say that vitamin B does not actually result in increased body activity. Source of the controversy The controversy has been in the public domain for a while for a while. The debate on the impact of Vitamin B on metabolism and body activities have been stealing headlines in the print media, in the internet and even on TV. I first knew about the controversy through the Internet. I was going through an article on nutrition, and the author alluded to this controversy. There is need for the professionals in the nutrition sector to clear the air on this controversy so that people are well informed about whether vitamin B is good from metabolism or whether it has harmful effects and should therefore be avoided. The controversy surrounding the effect on nutrition on metabolism is not good and the earlier a precise position on the matter is arrived at the better. Review of the scientific evidence that supports the controversy Vitamin B is effective in increasing metabolism in the human body. What makes Vitamin B even better is the fact that it is water-soluble, which is essential for cell functioning. Vitamin B plays an unrivaled role concerning maintenance of the mitochondrion function. Any deficiency of vitamin B usually results in compromising the critical mitochondrion function. There are several forms of Vitamin B, which includes Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic, Biotin, pyridoxol, and cobalamin. All these forms of vitamin b play a role in the metabolism, which results to increase in the activity of the body. Thiamin, Riboflavin, and vitamin B-6 are essentially critical in generation of energy in the body while vitamin B-12 is essentially useful in ensuring that new cells are synthesized. In fact, Vitamin B-12 is critical in the synthesis of red blood cells as well as the repair and maintenance of cells that have been damaged. The fact that Vitamin B increases the metabolism in the body makes it to be recommended for athletes. Physical activity usually alters the need for vitamin B in many ways. During physical activity, the energy pathways are stressed hence the need for vitamin B in order to increase the pathways. Moreover, during training or physical activity, there are biochemical adaptations, which occur in the body that makes it necessary for more nutrients to be added into the body. According to Dunford and Doyle (2011), the other reason that underscores the need for vitamin B during exercise is the loss of macronutrient during strenuous exercise either in the form of sweat, feces, or urine. Moreover, Vitamin B is required in the body, especially for those involved in strenuous activity in order to maintain and repair the cells and lean tissue in active individuals or athletes. Besides its contribution to boosting energy as well as athletic performance, research points out to other critical benefits of Vitamin B on health. Vitamin B-12, in particular, is critical in reducing the risk of heart disease. Vitamin B-6 and Folic Acid are also essential preventive measures against heart conditions (Kate, 2012). Scientists attest that the vitamins are helpful in reducing blood levels of a compound known as homocysteine, which is responsible to increasing he risk of having a heart attack or even stoke. The other critical significance of Vitamin B is that it helps in containing dementia. Dementia refers to a condition that individuals develop, as they get lower. By Vitamin B-12 reducing the levels of homocysteine, it also helps to actually treat and prevent dementia. Review of the scientific evidence that does not support the benefit of Vitamin B Despite the very many advantages of Vitamin B as discussed above, there are several information that alludes to the disadvantages of this Vitamin. To be precise, there are several articles with scientific evidence that Vitamin B does not increase activity of the body nor does it speed metabolism, I the body. Chow and Stone (2013) say that there is no relationship between physical activity and Vitamins on athletes. The research shows that even under intense activity such as swimming, training, or running the concentrations of some form of Vitamin B remains unchanged. The fact that the concentrations of these vitamins remaining unchanged means that they are not being used to speed up metabolism that will generate body activity to accommodate the energy requirements during such activities. This fact clearly points out that there exist no relationship between Vitamin B and the Metabolism. The other factor that points out to the disadvantage of Vitamin D is the fact that it affects the effectiveness of medication in individuals. Survey shows that some kinds of medication are not effective when individuals take vitamin B-12 supplements or food rich in Vitamin B. According to Woolf and Manore (2006), such medication which to dot work well under Vitamin B are Chloramphenicol an antibiotic used to treat infections, the Metformin, which is a drug for treating tuberculosis. Professional opinion regarding this controversy There is no any published professional opinion based on precise facts that has either disregarded or approved the role of Vitamin B in boosting metabolism. It is worth noting that the controversy has been mere speculation that has been fueled by media and alarmist. There is no research finding that has disregarded the fact that vitamin B increase metabolism. Therefore, Vitamin B has the capacity to increase the performance of athletes. Personal Opinion I believe that Vitamin B is an essential element that has myriad of benefits to individuals. It aids in the synthesis of cells besides repairing and maintaining such cells. Moreover, boost metabolism thereby increasing the activity of the body significantly. The media and alarmist should desist from fueling the controversy surrounding the use of Vitamin B in boosting Metabolism. References Chow, F. B., & Stone, H. H. (2013). The Relationship of Vitamin B12 to Carbohydate Metabolism and Diabetes Mellitus. American Journal of Clinical Pyschology, 5 (4), 432-459 Dunford, J. M., & Doyle, A. (2011). Nutrition for Sport and Exercise. Boston MA: Cengage Learning Kate, G. (2012). End Your Energy Crisis With Vitamin B12. Retrieved from http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/end-your-energy-crisis-vitamin-b12 Sato, A., & Murayama, N. (2011). 2195-204 Dietary Thiamin and Riboflavin Intake and Blood Thiamin and Riboflavin Concentrations in College Swimmers Undergoing Intensive Training. International Journal of Sports and Exercise Metabolism, 2, 195-204 Woolf, K., & Manore, M. M. (2006). B-Vitamins and Exercise: Does xersise Alter Requirements? International Journal of Sports and Exercise Metabolism, 16, 453-484 Read More