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Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6 and the Immune System

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Nutrition and Immunity

Abstract

Vitamins and minerals other than protein, carbohydrates, and fats are essential for life. B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins and cannot be stored in the body; thus, daily consumption is required. In particular, B vitamins are necessary for the proper functioning of the methylation cycle, DNA synthesis, and repair and maintenance of phospholipids. A decrease in the methylation function leads to chronic neurological disorders. Vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), and B6 (pyridoxine) aid in the conversion of food into energy and are essential for healthy skin, muscles, brain, and nerve functionality. In addition, pantothenic acid is involved in the production of lipids (fats), neurotransmitters, hormones, hemoglobin, and pyridoxine and plays a key role in sleep, appetite, and mood disorders.

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Acknowledgments

VA was supported by the Victoria University College of Health and Biomedicine start-up funds, and KM was supported by the Victoria University Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship. VA and KM were also supported by the Institute for Health and Sport, Mechanisms and Interventions in Health and Disease Program, Victoria University, Australia.

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Correspondence to Vasso Apostolopoulos .

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Mikkelsen, K., Apostolopoulos, V. (2019). Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6 and the Immune System. In: Mahmoudi, M., Rezaei, N. (eds) Nutrition and Immunity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16073-9_7

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