Biotin (vitamin cofactor) This is a vitamin cofactor which facilitates the metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates. It is thought to aid the body in promoting the normal health of sweat glands, nerve tissue, bone marrow, male genitalia and red blood cells. Like most B vitamins and related cofactors, Biotin also is thought to aid in the slowing of premature hair loss (it cannot restore hair), premature wrinkling, and scaly skin rash.Recent research of Biotin has demonstrated that deficiency of Biotin has been one of the causes of various skin problems in infants and various forms of skin irritations in adults. Its deficiency may be linked to the reasons of the occurrence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), but it remains unproven
Ascorbic acid, Mol Wt. 176, related chemically to sugars, is a well known vitamin that is thought to be essential for the maintenance of connective tissues. Without ascorbic acid, the structure of the connective tissue becomes weakened, the linings of blood vessels, as well as the sheath of connective tissue about them, become weakened so that bleeding occurs. It is involved in the hydroxylation of proline to hydroxyproline, an important step in the synthesis of collagen, healthy bones and cartilage. Thus, it is integral to the promotion of healthy eyes, gums and teeth, critically essential in the healing and repair of wounds and damaged cells. It is also involved in the hydroxylation of tryptophan to 5-HTP, the immediate precursor to serotonin, and the conversion of 3,4-dihdrooxyphenylethylamine to norepinephrine, and the hydroxylation of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate to homogentisic acid in the catabolic pathway of tyrosine. Vitamin C and its esters have been shown to lower cholesterol levels in atherosclerotic patients, and is involved in the formation of hemoglobin, the absorption of iron from the body. Tissues which have the highest rate of metabolic activity also have the highest amounts of vitamin C. Useful in complementing the body's immune system in times of stress and illness as well as necessary in maintaining optimum health.Vitamin C, when used in conjunction with bioflavonoids, is thought to help in the reduction of the formation of "age-spots." Vitamin C may aid the body in stopping the skin's pigment from prematurely clumping and being acted upon by the sun's ultraviolet rays, circumventing the possibility of the clumps from being turned into age-spots. Vitamin C is thought to aid the body, strengthen capillaries and avoid easy bruising, and the formation of those tiny hemorrhages of capillaries that become spider veins. As a cofactor, Vitamin C also helps the oil-secreting glands function properly, keeping the skin from drying out. Further, this vitamin may also be helpful in keeping hair from getting tangled, matted, snarled and broken. There are 6 stable esters of vitamin C, all of which prove useful in the body. These include: Vitamin C1-Ascorbic Acid, VItamin C2-Dehyroascorbic Acid, Vitamin C3-Ascorbyl Palmitate, VItamin C4-Calcium Ascorbate, Vitamin C5-Isoascorbic Acid, Vitamin C6-Calcium Isoascorbate, and lastly, Ascorbign, or provitamin C (the direct precursor of ascorbic acid) is also useful and appears to potentiate, if not accelerate, vitamin C activity.
