Our Price: $26.90

SKU: DL7925-180X

Stress-Plex-Forte, from Douglas Laboratories, is a comprehensive B supplement providing all essential B vitamins and related nutrients, including a significant amount of vitamin C.

FUNCTIONS
As co-enzymes, the B vitamins are essential components in most major metabolic reactions. They play an important role in energy production, including the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins.* B vitamins are also important for blood cells, hormones, and nervous system function.* As water-soluble substances, B vitamins are not generally stored in the body in any appreciable amounts (with the exception of vitamin B-12). Therefore, the body needs an adequate supply of B vitamins on a daily basis.

Thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin are all essential coenzymes in energy production.* Thiamin is converted quickly into thiamin pyrophosphate, which is required for glycolytic and Krebs cycle reactions. Thiamin also appears to be related to nerve impulse transmission. Riboflavin is a component of the coenzymes FAD and FMN, which are intermediates in many redox reactions, including energy production and cellular respiration reactions. Niacin is a component of the coenzymes NAD and NADP, which are involved in energy production as well as biosynthetic processes.*

Vitamin B-6 is a coenzyme in amino acid metabolism.* It is necessary for the metabolism of homocysteine and the conversion of tryptophan into niacin. Vitamin B-6 dependent enzymes are also needed for the biosynthesis of many neurotransmitters, including serotonin, epinephrine, and norepinephrin. * Vitamin B-12 and folic acid are coenzymes in DNA and RNA metabolism.* Both of these B vitamins assist in homocysteine metabolism. Folic acid serves as a methyl donor and vitamin B-12 as a coenzyme in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine.

Biotin and pantothenic acid are also coenzymes essential for energy production from dietary fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.* Pantothenic acid is a component of coenzyme A and of phosphopantetheine, and is therefore essential for Krebs cycle operation. Biotin is involved in many carboxylation reactions associated with gluconeogenesis, the Krebs cycle, and fatty acid synthesis.

While not truly vitamins, choline, inositol, and para-aminobenzoic acid are important nutrients related to B vitamins. Choline serves as a methyl donor for homocysteine metabolism following conversion to betaine, as a structural component of cellular membranes as phosphatidylcholine, and as a neurotransmitter as acetylcholine.* Inositol aids in the cellular response to hormonal signals, serves as a source of arachidonic acid, and is active in cellular membranes as phoshatidylinositol. Finally, para-aminobenzoic acid has antioxidant properties.*

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has numerous biological functions. Foremost, it is essential for the synthesis of collagen and glycosaminoglycans which are the building materials of all connective tissues, such as skin, blood vessels, tendons, joint cartilage and bone. Vitamin C is the required coenzyme for two groups of enzymes that catalyze the crosslinking of collagen fibers - lysyl hydroxylases and prolyl hydroxylases. As such, vitamin C is essential for normal wound healing and capillary health. It also participates in the biosynthesis of carnitine, serotonin, and certain neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine.

Vitamin C is among the most powerful antioxidants in humans and animals. It is a water-soluble, chainbreaking antioxidant that reacts directly with superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, and singlet oxygen. Laboratory studies show that vitamin C completely protects lipids in plasma and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) against atherogenic peroxidative damage. In addition, vitamin C interacts with glutathione and alpha-lipoic acid, and regenerates vitamin E. The antioxidant functions of vitamin C appear to have clinical significance in providing protection from free radical damage to the eyes, lungs, blood and the immune system.