Back To School Success & B Vitamins | Ramneek Bhogal
Ramneek Bhogal - Cherokee County, GA
Do Children Need B-Complex Vitamins?
As children grow, the pressures of learning, homework, quizzes, tests, and other educational activities start to build up. Therefore, it is important to provide your children with the proper nutrients, particularly vitamin B-complex, to support their brain function. Although a balanced diet, good sleeping patterns, and daily physical activity will help keep your child on the road to success, there are additional things you can do to improve their cognitive health and learning.
Just as prenatal vitamins are essential to support optimal development of babies in the womb, growing children need continued vitamin and mineral support. The prenatal and childhood stages are the most critical for brain development. During these stages, neurons are formed to enhance cognitive health and brain function. During childhood, optimal nutrition and the recommended intake of several key nutrients like B-complex vitamins are crucial.
Brain-Specific Roles B-Vitamins Play In Developing Minds
Did you know that a child’s brain undergoes a period of brain development from birth to age three, and they can produce more than a million neural connections each second? Nourishing children with B vitamins plays a significant role in their brain development and helps keep those neural connections sharp.
In fact, B vitamins likely play an even larger role than you may think. For example, thiamine contributes to the structure and function of cellular membranes, including neurons. Niacin receptors, which are distributed throughout the brain and immune system, are essential for energy production. Pantothenic acid contributes to the structure and function of brain cells, and it’s involved in the synthesis of cholesterol, amino acids, phospholipids, and fatty acids. Vitamin B6 is involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters—such as dopamine, serotonin, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and noradrenaline—and the hormone melatonin. Both folate and vitamin B12 help with brain development and function, as well as concentration; folate reduces neural defects, and vitamin B12 is involved in the function and development of the brain, nerve cells, the myelin sheaths that protect nerves, and blood cells.
All B vitamins are essential for brain health, and a deficiency in any one of these vitamins may have some side effects. For example, if there is a vitamin B6 deficiency, it may lead to depression and loss of concentration. A folate and vitamin B12 deficiency may cause neurological problems and anemia. A riboflavin deficiency—a vitamin responsible for the synthesis, conversion, and reutilization of niacin, folate, and vitamin B6—can lead to adverse effects on brain function and the nervous system.
Having this information and knowing the benefits and deficiency risks can help you realize the impact B vitamins have on a child’s educational focus and overall health. A healthy diet throughout childhood can offer positive benefits, like stimulating the immune system and enhancing digestion, metabolism, and growth. By adding the right B vitamins into their diet, your child can meet their nutritional needs and enjoy a healthier brain—all while getting A’s in school.