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dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase
complexes (Ronsein et al. 2016). Niacin has lipid-lowering effects and can be used
in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (Elam et al. 2000).
9.3.2.4 Pantothenic Acid (B5)
It is a member of the vitamin B complex group. As part of the fatty acid synthase
and of coenzyme A, it is involved in hormonogenesis and energy production.
Patients with pantothenic acid deficit may develop adrenal insufficiency, enteritis or
dermatological conditions (alopecia, dermatitis etc) (Lykstad and Sharma 2019).
9.3.2.5 Biotin (Vitamin B7)
Biotin is also considered as a member of the B-complex group. It helps in the synthesis of fatty acids, utilization of glucose, metabolism of proteins, and utilization
of vitamin B 12 and folic acid. The effects of biotin deficiency or excess have
remained unknown. It is obtained from green beans, egg yolk, dark green vegetables, kidneys and liver (Hsu et al. 2016).
9.3.2.6 Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)
Folic acid is the synthesized form of folate, a water-soluble vitamin, found in green
leafy vegetables, fruits and liver. Following conversion, vitamin B9 or folate
becomes tetrahydrofolate, its active form. It is an essential molecule in the synthesis
of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). Folate deficiency can lead to neural tube defects,
thus pregnant women should receive folate supplementations as a preventive
method. Folate deficiency can also cause megaloblastic anemia, a type of macrocytic anemia, and prompts a differential diagnosis with vitamin B 12 deficiency,
which also causes megaloblastic anemia (Lykstad and Sharma 2019; Ankar and
Kumar 2019).
Methylenetetrahydrofolate is involved in the synthesis of thymidine, an important component of the DNA. Neural tube defects are common in children whose
mothers were deficient in folic acid during pregnancy (Hodgetts et al. 2015). Neural
tube defects can be prevented in children whose mothers receive folic acid supplements during pregnancy. Methyl vitamin B 12 mediates the reaction in which the
amino acid methionine, which is required for the synthesis of myelin, is generated
from homocysteine. During this process, methyl tetrahydrofolate is also converted
to tetrahydrofolate. The normal generation of methyl tetrahydrofolate depends upon
an adequate supply of both folic acid and vitamin B 12 . Deficiency of either of them
can produce a defect in all the tissues with rapid rate of cellular proliferation, e.g.
the bone marrow (resulting in megaloblastic anaemia) and the gastrointestinal tract.
M. Akram et al.
dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase
complexes (Ronsein et al. 2016). Niacin has lipid-lowering effects and can be used
in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (Elam et al. 2000).
9.3.2.4 Pantothenic Acid (B5)
It is a member of the vitamin B complex group. As part of the fatty acid synthase
and of coenzyme A, it is involved in hormonogenesis and energy production.
Patients with pantothenic acid deficit may develop adrenal insufficiency, enteritis or
dermatological conditions (alopecia, dermatitis etc) (Lykstad and Sharma 2019).
9.3.2.5 Biotin (Vitamin B7)
Biotin is also considered as a member of the B-complex group. It helps in the synthesis of fatty acids, utilization of glucose, metabolism of proteins, and utilization
of vitamin B 12 and folic acid. The effects of biotin deficiency or excess have
remained unknown. It is obtained from green beans, egg yolk, dark green vegetables, kidneys and liver (Hsu et al. 2016).
9.3.2.6 Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)
Folic acid is the synthesized form of folate, a water-soluble vitamin, found in green
leafy vegetables, fruits and liver. Following conversion, vitamin B9 or folate
becomes tetrahydrofolate, its active form. It is an essential molecule in the synthesis
of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). Folate deficiency can lead to neural tube defects,
thus pregnant women should receive folate supplementations as a preventive
method. Folate deficiency can also cause megaloblastic anemia, a type of macrocytic anemia, and prompts a differential diagnosis with vitamin B 12 deficiency,
which also causes megaloblastic anemia (Lykstad and Sharma 2019; Ankar and
Kumar 2019).
Methylenetetrahydrofolate is involved in the synthesis of thymidine, an important component of the DNA. Neural tube defects are common in children whose
mothers were deficient in folic acid during pregnancy (Hodgetts et al. 2015). Neural
tube defects can be prevented in children whose mothers receive folic acid supplements during pregnancy. Methyl vitamin B 12 mediates the reaction in which the
amino acid methionine, which is required for the synthesis of myelin, is generated
from homocysteine. During this process, methyl tetrahydrofolate is also converted
to tetrahydrofolate. The normal generation of methyl tetrahydrofolate depends upon
an adequate supply of both folic acid and vitamin B 12 . Deficiency of either of them
can produce a defect in all the tissues with rapid rate of cellular proliferation, e.g.
the bone marrow (resulting in megaloblastic anaemia) and the gastrointestinal tract.
M. Akram et al.