glossary

Jul 6, 2016

In humans, B-complex vitamins are involved in energy metabolism. Any deficiencies can cause chronic fatigue, sleep disorder and neuropathy. Some specific B-complex vitamins are involved in other body activities. Vitamin B12 and folic acid, for example, play an important role in red blood cell synthesis and deficiencies may cause anemia. Folic acid is also involved in cellular development and division; a deficiency can cause neural tube defect (spina bifida, encephalitis) in newborns.

To meet their needs, yeast is capable of synthesizing its own B vitamins. Like any living organism, they have an excellent storage mechanism for B-vitamins. These vitamins occur mainly in bound form as components of enzymes and coenzymes.

• Thiamine is linked with phosphoric acid.

• Riboflavin occurs in yeast flavoproteins, highly tied to proteins.

• Pantothenic acid, one of the vitamins first isolated from yeast, is a constituent of coenzyme A.
• Niacin is present in yeast as the amide of nicotinic acid.

• Pyridoxine occurs as pyridoxal and pyridoxamine in coenzymes.

• Biotin is found in yeast largely bound to proteins.