Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is crucial for healthy red blood cells, brain and nervous system function, DNA regulation, and metabolism. Production of B12 by gut bacteria contribute up to 31% of the daily recommended intake for this nutrient.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is a cofactor needed for energy production and fat metabolism that also plays an important role in immune cell function.

Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is essential for energy production and fat metabolism. Bacteroides fragilis, Prevotella copri, Ruminococcus spp, Salmonella enterica, and Helicobacter pylori can all produce vitamin B5 in the gut. However, there are many species that rely on vitamin B5 for growth but cannot synthesize it, like most Fusobacterium, Bifidobacterium spp, Faecalibacterium spp, Lactobacillus spp, and some strains of Clostridium difficile, suggesting that these bacteria may compete with the host for vitamin B5.

Vitamin B6 is an incredibly versatile nutrient that supports immunity, brain function, and protein metabolism. It is also a necessary, rate limiting cofactor for neurotransmitter production, including dopamine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), noradrenaline, and the hormone melatonin.

This nutrient is found abundantly in foods, particularly fish, chicken, tofu, sweet potato, and avocado.

B6 can also be produced by commensal gut species including Bacteroides fragilis, Prevotella copri, Bacillus clausii, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus mutans, Bifidobacterium longum, Collinsella aerofaciens, and Helicobacter pylori.

Human gut microflora contribute up to 86% of the daily recommended intake of B6.

Biotin (also known as Vitamin H, Vitamin B7, or Vitamin B8) is a water soluble vitamin necessary for growth, development, and cellular energy production that can support healthy hair, skin, and nails and support healthy immune responses. Biotin is synthesized from tryptophan by intestinal bacteria like Bacteroides fragilis, Prevotella copri, Ruminococcus lactaris, Clostridium difficile, Bifidobacterium infantis, Helicobacter pylori, and Fusobacterium varium. In contrast, some species of Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium, and Lactobacillus may steal biotin from the host as they need it for survival.

Vitamin B9 (folate or tetrahydrafolate), is essential for healthy blood cells. Gut-derived folate is directly absorbed into the colon, contributing up to 37% of the daily recommended intake. If vitamin B9 producers are low, there could be low levels of this nutrient available to the body.

Vitamin K2 is a fat-soluble vitamin necessary for calcium metabolism and critical for the health of teeth, bones, nerves, and the cardiovascular system. Most K2 comes from dietary sources, however, gut bacteria including Escherichia coli, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacteroides fragilis can also produce K2 endogenously. However, microbially derived K2 has protective role against oxidative tissue damage in the gut.

Vitamin A is one of the fat-soluble vitamins required for health. It’s especially important for vision, skin and mucous membranes found surrounding all organs. Vitamin A provides free radical-fighting functions for immunity and for anti-aging.

Vitamin A is a family of fat soluble compounds (carotinoids) that play an important role in vision, bone growth, reproduction and cell differentiation. It also helps regulate the immune system, promoting optimal lymphocyte function in defending against bacterial and viral infections. Retinol (Vitamin A) promotes healthy surface linings of the eyes and respiratory, urinary and instestinal tracts. Vitamin A also promotes healthy skin function and integrity. Retinol is the most active form of Vitmain A and is synthesized in the body by conversion of provitamin A, primarily beta-carotene, into retinol. Lycopene, lutein and zeaxathin are carotiniods that do not have Vitamin A activity, but have other helath promoting properties. Studies are inconclusive in identifying vitamin A’s rols as an antioxidant.

Required by the eye for vision and to protect the rest of your body from damaging effects of infection and stress.

Vitamin A is an antioxidant in the membranes of your cells where it serves a protective function. Every day you lose some vitamin A, because it is used in the replacement of old tissues.

Vitamin A is an antioxidant in the membranes of your cells where it serves a protective function. Every day you lose some vitamin A, because it is used in the replacement of old tissues.

Vitamin A is a group of fat-soluble vitamins which includes retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and several provitamin A carotenoids, among which beta-carotene is the most important.

Vitamin A has multiple functions including: growth and development in infants, children and adolescents, maintenance of the immune system, and healthy vision.

Vitamin A is needed by the retina of the eye for both low-light and color vision.

Vitamin A also functions as retinoic acid, an important hormone-like growth factor for epithelial and other cells.

Other important roles that vitamin A plays in the body include: gene transcription, haematopoiesis, and antioxidant activity.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) is used by cells to help make energy from foodstuffs. Thiamin pyrophosphate is a cofactor for dehydrogenase enzymes with key roles in cellular energy production.

Dietary sources richest in B1 (per serving) include:

- Nutritional supplements

- Rice Bran

- Nutritional Yeasts

- Wheat Germ

- Legumes (beans, peas, soybeans, lentils)

Vitamin B1, also called thiamine, is important for nervous system and muscle function. Thiamine acts as a coenzyme for carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. It also is essential for the production of hydrochloric acid. 

Vitamin B1, also known as Thiamine, plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal blood health. As a water-soluble vitamin, it is essential for the proper functioning of the circulatory system and is particularly vital in the metabolism of glucose, which is the primary energy source for the body and especially important for the brain and nervous system. Thiamine helps in the production of red blood cells and in the maintenance of healthy endothelial cells, which line the blood vessels, thus ensuring efficient nutrient and oxygen transport throughout the body.

Vitamin B12 is needed to form blood and immune cells, and support a healthy nervous system. A series of closely-related compounds known collectively as cobalamins or vitamin B12 are converted into active forms methylcobalamin or 5’-deoxyadenosylcobalamin. Methylcobalamin interacts with folate metabolism, preventing folate derivatives from being trapped in unusable states. Adenosylcobalamin is involved in the metabolism of odd-chain fatty acids and branchedchain amino acids.

Vitamin B12 is essential in many basic bodily functions. High levels are not usually cause for concern, but low levels may indicate a medical deficiency or disease. In America, food such as cereal and grains are enriched with many essential vitamins, including vitamin B12. For this reason, dietary deficiency is rare.