B complex vitamins are nutrients the body needs in small amounts (micronutrients) for metabolism, energy production, and overall health of cells, skin, bones, muscles, and the nervous system. The typical way to analyze vitamins is to measure them by a chemical analytical method (usually HPLC), which cannot separate the active from the inactive metabolites of the vitamins. By measuring the biologically active vitamins, their actual active concentration is determined.
The B complex vitamins tested are bioactive vitamin B1 (thiamine), bioactive vitamin B2 (riboflavin), bioactive vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and bioactive vitamin B12 (cobalamin).
What are the benefits of measuring Biologically Active Vitamins?
This test measures the biologically active in vivo metabolites of B vitamins. Vitamins' biological action (bioactivity) has more excellent value. It is a more representative indication of their active concentration than the simple chemical measurement of their levels, especially in cases where these indications are used to determine substitution therapy or to check a therapeutic intervention.
Measurement of biologically active vitamins is recommended when examining vitamins in plasma, serum, or whole blood that are in the gray zone, i.e., have borderline values, and when the measured levels of vitamins are incompatible with the observed clinical picture or other laboratory tests.
The B Complex Active Vitamin Profile measures the activity of 4 vitamins in the blood to evaluate a person's actual nutritional status objectively.
How are Biologically Active Vitamins measured?
To test the biologically active vitamins, the blood sample is subjected to an enzymatic pre-treatment and then placed in microplates containing microorganisms sensitive to these vitamins (e.g., Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus leishmania, Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The nutrient medium, specific and unique to each vitamin, contains all the necessary ingredients for the growth of microorganisms, except for the vitamin to be measured. When the patient's blood is added to the material, the microorganisms grow until the examined vitamin is depleted. The growth of microorganisms is measured after 72 hours of incubation in a unique multi-channel analyzer and compared to standard concentrations of vitamins. The bioactivity of the tested vitamin is directly proportional to the measured growth of microorganisms.
More Information on Measured Vitamins
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Thiamine is passively absorbed from the intestine through diffusion and active transport. An enzyme converts it to thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), the biologically active form of vitamin B1. Thiamine acts as a coenzyme in pentose metabolism in the liver and erythrocytes. For the nervous system, vitamin B1 is essential for energy metabolism and the biosynthesis of lipids and acetylcholine. Clinical symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency include neuropathy with impaired sensitivity, burning sensation in the legs, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, loss of coordination, mood disorders and depression, fatigue, lack of concentration, memory disorders, irritability, cardiovascular disorders with tachycardia and changes in the electrocardiogram.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Vitamin B2, in its biologically active forms, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), is a cofactor of many redox enzymes. Food-derived riboflavin must be released from its binding to proteins under the influence of gastric acid before it can be absorbed in the small intestine. Clinical symptoms of vitamin B2 deficiency include inflammatory disorders of the skin and mucous membranes, slow wound healing, thrombosis, atherosclerotic changes, and increased homocysteine.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal, pyridoxine, pyridoxamine)
Vitamin B6 is active as pyridoxal phosphate in many enzymatic reactions in all areas of metabolism, especially as a cofactor in amino acid metabolic reactions. Vitamin B6 is essential for the production of serotonin by tryptophan and as a cofactor of the histamine breakdown enzyme diaminoxidase (DAO). Clinical symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency are neurological disorders (ataxia, paralysis), insomnia, irritability, sensitivity disorders, inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes, neuritis, changes in blood tests (cytopenia, anemia), histamine intolerance, disturbance of intestinal absorption of trace elements and increased homocysteine.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) acts as a cofactor of various enzymes. Cobalamins contain the trace element cobalt as a central atom. The biologically inactive form, cyanocobalamin (= vitamin B12), must be converted to the biologically active form, adenosylcobalamin (= coenzyme B12). Methylcobalamin (Methyl-B12, MeCbl) is also a biologically active form of Vitamin B12.
B12 deficiency is manifested by tingling and feeling cold in the hands and feet, exhaustion and difficulty in concentrating, pernicious anemia, disturbances from the central nervous system, and dementia. Timely and accurate measurement of vitamin B12 deficiency is necessary to prevent the occurrence of irreversible neurological dysfunctions and other pathological conditions.
