B-vitamins are a class of water-soluble micronutrients that are required for cell metabolism. These include thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), biotin (vitamin B7), folate (vitamin B9), and vitamin B12. B-vitamins serve as cofactors in the metabolism of amino acids, fatty acids, and sugars, as well as the synthesis and methylation of DNA (McCormick et al., ; Powers, ; Kamanna and Kashyap, ; Stover, ; Allen, ; Combs, Jr., 2012). In particular, folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 are required in one-carbon metabolism, including de novo purine biosynthesis and production of S-adenosyl methionine, the universal methyl donor required in over 100 methylation processes (Stover, ; Finkelstein et al., 2015). Requirements for B-vitamins are increased during periods of rapid growth and development, including during pregnancy and early childhood (Stover, ; Finkelstein et al., 2015).
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