B vitamins

B vitamins are a class of water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism and synthesis of red blood cells.^[1][2] They are a chemically diverse class of compounds.^[1]

Dietary supplements containing all eight are referred to as a vitamin B complex. Individual B vitamins are referred to by B-number or by chemical name, such as B₁ for thiamine, B₂ for riboflavin, and B₃ for niacin,^[1][2] while some are more commonly recognized by name than by number, such as pantothenic acid (B₅), biotin (B₇), and folate (B₉).^[1] B vitamins are present in protein-rich foods, such as fish, poultry, meat, dairy products, and eggs; they are also found in leafy green vegetables, beans, and peas.^[1] Fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals, baked products, and infant formulas, may contain B vitamins.^[1]

Each B vitamin is either a cofactor (generally a coenzyme) for key metabolic processes or is a precursor needed to make one.^[1][2]