The Fantastic Four - Vitamin B4

Ciao Nutrinutters!

How was your New Years? I hope everyone had a great time! I spent mine with my family and watched the fireworks nearby at midnight. There's something about counting down the last 10 seconds of the year and then watching all those beautiful colorful lights explode in the night sky! Don't you think?

So far everywhere I go, all I hear people talk about is the guilt of the extra pounds they gained during the holidays...but all I can think of is how delicious everything I ate was! I sensually ate during the entire holidays! :)
Ok, ok! I do feel some detox has to happen now =/  So how about we start by continuing our Journey?

We covered B1, B2, B3 and the next logical step would be to cover B4...never heard of it? That's because it was practically mission impossible to find something on the topic. The most common B vitamins are: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12...but being the Nutrinut that I am, I found a few things on the topic although it was not easy! Who doesn't love a good challenge?

Wanna know what this one is called?? Were you hoping for an easy name like Ana? It does start with an A so you were close! It's called Adenine.

Adenine is a nucleobase meaning that it has in its structure Nitrogen and is found in DNA. We will not go down the genetics path from Bio class, no worries :)
So why is this even a vitamin?? The reason why it is B4 is because it has certain Vitamin properties.

What does it take to be in the Vitamin Club?

A vitamin is defined by being the following:

• Organic compound - this just means that it has carbon in its chain - that little "C" that you would see connected to all the "H" in chemistry class, look familiar?

• Required in the diet in small amounts for the main body functions.

Adenine unfortunately got kicked out of the B complex group and it is no longer considered a true vitamin but 2 of the vitamins we've discussed already (B2 and B3) link to it to perform some of their own functions.

What are some functions of Adenine?

There is no way to discuss these in detail without going into biology and chemistry, so I'll keep this simple!
Adenine participates in the following:

• Cellular respiration (a process that takes place in your cells to make energy from nutrients)
• Making protein (since it is part of DNA)

Wanna hear something neat?

I found a study in the International Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment that the use of small doses Adenine worked efficiently as a protective factor in the radiation treatment of breast cancer cells!

Food Sources and How much do I need?

Although one can't actually find food sources of B4 and to make protein in our body you need to eat protein in foods, it is safe to assume that eating foods high in protein such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans will help in making more protein for your body and can be considered good sources.

As for how much we need, look back at the protein post to calculate how much protein you need specifically :)  Some of you have already done the math - for those of you who haven't, it's a great time to catch up! Just click below :)

How much protein do I need??

Did you guys survive this post???

If you did, I think this song is for you!!!

If the video wasn't playing on your phone, the song is called "on top of the world" by Imagine Dragons

Thanks for staying tuned one more week!!! Hope everyone has a great year!!!!!
2014 will be our year Nutrinutters!!!

xoxo

- The Nutrinut-

Sources: ANTICANCER RESEARCH 26: 3005-3010 (2006), Biochemical Physiological, Molecular Aspects of Human Nutriiton