B vitamin

The B vitamins are a class of of water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism. Though these vitamins share similar names, they are chemically distinct that often coexist in the same foods.

List of B vitamins

 * Vitamin B1 - Thiamine
 * Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin
 * Vitamin B3 - Niacin (nicotinic acid)
 * Vitamin B5 - Pantothenic Acid
 * Vitamin B6 - Pyridoxal-5'-Phosphate (PLP) (other forms include Pyridoxine and Pyridoxamine)
 * Vitamin B7 - Biotin
 * Vitamin B9 - Folate (other forms include Folic acid)
 * Vitamin B12 Cobalamin (other forms include hydroxocobalamin, cyanocobalamin or methylcobalamin)

Vitamin B Complex
B vitamin complex is a nutritional supplement containing a variety of different B vitamins.

Importance to ME/CFS
A small study of chronic fatigue syndrome patients found below normal levels of a number of B vitamins, including vitamin B6 (PLP), B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B9 (folate), these levels were unlikely to be caused by deficiencies in diet. Vitamin B6 levels were particularly low.

High homocysteine may contribute to cognitive issues in ME/CFS and lowering it with vitamin B12 and folic acid (or methylfolate) may reduce symptoms

Notable studies

 * 1999, Vitamin B status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (Full)