Best Vitamins for Skin & Health | BeautUp Clinic

Vitamin A

If you are familiar with rejuvenating facial creams, you must have heard of retinoic acid, a form of Vitamin A. Retinoic acid is used in skin care products for its rejuvenation qualities. Vitamin A encompasses various related chemical compounds, that are fat soluble. Vitamin A is essential to cellular development, genes regulation, vision (notably nocturnal), body immune function, and skin and mucous membrane health, amongst other things.

Origin

The dietary source of vitamin A comes in the form of retinol, as vitamin A₁. It is found in butter, egg yolks, liver. Carotenoids give algae, plants and fruits their yellow, orange and red colors. They are precursors of retinol. Found for example, in palm oil (notice the bright orange color), astaxanthin algae (notice its bright pink-red color as well), and dark leafy vegetables such as spinach. They act as very powerful antioxidants and counteract the disruptive effects UVB have on the cells’ DNA (the beautiful colors of corals are due to carotenoids that protect their symbiotic algae from UVB).

Vitamin A and skin

Topically, vitamin A as retinoic acid, is used in prescription medicine (Accutane), thanks to its modulatory effect on skin inflammation and sebum secretion, on severe cases of cystic acne. Vitamin A palmitate is used is over-the-counter topical creams, they help to remove age spots, wrinkles, etc. This works by the action retinoic acid has on the DNA, switching on some genes responsible for the maturation of undifferentiated cells into mature epidermal ones, thus renewing the skin!

Vitamin A and immune function

Vitamin A has a modulatory effect on the body’s immune response. It reduces inflammation via the inhibition of chemotactic responses of monocytes and neutrophils. In conjunction with other treatments, it can help to care of rosacea, lupus, psoriasis and other afflicting conditions.

Vitamin A safety

Hypervitaminosis A (too much of Vitamin A), from an excess of orally taken Vitamin A can be as dangerous as hypovitaminosis A (not enough Vitamin A). Orally absorbed Retinoic Acid are prescription medications as they may cause serious side effects, and should only be undertaken the supervision of a physician.

The over supplementation of Beta-carotenoids, on another hand,  is not a cause for health concerns, except in the case of smokers, as it is thought to potentiate lung cancers in this group of people.

Inquire about our patient-tailored Vitamin A products here

Vitamins B

Vitamins B complex sustain the chemical reactions that sustain the life of the cells in humans. Vitamins B are essential to human life, and we would not survive without them. As an extreme and tragic example, a teenage boy went blind for lack of vitamin B in his food over the years. As what can be seen from this example, Vitamins B are critical for the nervous system, DNA and red blood cells production, cells metabolism, mental and physical energy.

Origin

Some sources for Vitamins B are red and white meat, eggs, diary products, germinated cereals, yeast, and legumes.

Vitamins B and people in need of more energy

It might be necessary for elderly patients and athletes, to have Vitamins B cocktail injected to benefit from a power boost.

Vitamins B safety

Readily excreted by the kidneys in the urine, Vitamins B in powder form are safe. Sometimes they are shown being snorted by famous actors as “cocaine” in movies. Vitamins B may also be delivered by injection, intravenously to help with mental fatigue or to reverse possible deficiencies.

See our Intravenous Nutrition Cocktails based on Vitamins B here

Vitamin C

Involved in the formation of collagen, the structural protein in our bodies, and in the repair of damaged cells, it is also a powerful antioxidant (think of the use of ascorbic acid in food preparation), and necessary for a strong immune system. Vitamin C is also a cofactor for various enzymatic reactions, notably of the synthesis of carnitine. L-carnitine supports energy production in the cells power factories, the mitochondria, using fatty acids as fuel. Esterified forms of carnitine are essential for good brain function, exercise recovery, and nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide is vasodilator, and of great help against high blood pressure or erectile dysfunction.

Origin

This rather fragile vitamin, because of its scavenging capacity to sequester oxygen molecules, is mostly found in citrus fruits, berries and vegetables. The fruit of the Australian tree Terminalia ferdinandiana has one of the highest concentration of Vitamin C in the world.

Vitamin C and skin

Vitamin C is  well-known for stopping scurvy in people suffering from periodontia. The antiradical properties of Vitamin C, also greatly benefits the skin. It neutralizes free radicals from UVs, air pollution and metabolism, that are responsible for DNA damage in the skin cells. DNA damage leads to a depletion of elastin and collagen formation, creating wrinkles and unsightly melasma. By boosting certain enzymatic reaction, Vitamin C is responsible for skin regeneration and whitening. It is a precious ally to a healthy, glowing and young-looking skin.

Vitamin C safety

The Vitamin C, is a water soluble vitamin, its excess is passed in the urine, and because of this, can be administered via intravenous injection. It is thought to have anti-cancer properties in large doses.

See how our Intravenous Vitamin C can help you here

Vitamin D

Fat-soluble Vitamins D are both a vitamin, and a hormone (secosteroid). They build and reconstruct bones, regulate the calcium-phosphorus balance in the blood, strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation.

Origin

Vitamins D are synthesized from the action of UV rays on the cholesterol, sequentially in the skin, the liver and the kidneys. 15 to 30 minutes of skin exposure to sunlight is usually enough to get the daily dose of Vitamins D. Dark-skinned people might need longer exposure, as melanin hinders its synthesization in the skin.

From food, it can be found in oily fish from cold waters, such as salmon, mackerel, and butter.

Vitamin D and health

Aside of rickets and osteomalacia, Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased risks of developing several types of cancers, including melanoma. Vitamin D administered to non-obese patients significantly lowered the risk of developing diabetes type 2, and even seems to be working in favor of diabetic patients.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in elderly patients, and sometimes in children as well.

Get your Vitamins D level tested here

Vitamin D safety

Vitamin D supplementation in people who do not experience its deficiency, has not shown to have much health benefits. Too much Vitamin D can lead to bone decalcification and other health complications.

Vitamin K2

Vitamin K₂, also known as menaquinone (MK) is one of three types of vitamin K, the other two being vitamin K₁ and vitamin K₃. Vitamin K is mostly known for its function on coagulation; however, it is involved in many other biological functions, and the fact of the matter is that the reality of its function on the body is much more complex than what it seems to be.

Origin

Vitamin K₂ is either produced by the tissues in the body, derived from the assimilation of vitamin K₁, or food, such as liver, or duck meat, and in fermented products such as sauerkraut, where it is produced as a byproduct of fermenting living bacteria.

Vitamin K₂ and calcium

One of the 9 forms of vitamin K₂ is menaquinone-4 (MK-4), and is of particular importance in ageing patients suffering from hypertension, osteoporosis and heart problems. Vitamin K₂ has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system on women reaching menopause and men reaching andropause.

Vitamin K₂ for osteoporosis

In Japan, being used in combination with Vitamin D, for women affected with osteoporosis.

Vitamin K₂ for cardiovascular health

Vitamin K antagonists disrupt the function of Vitamin K and its action on calcium ions. Patients using anticoagulants are more prone to soft tissue calcification, aortic wall stiffness, coronary insufficiency, and even heart failure (calcium ions are necessary for muscular contraction). A calcification inhibitory protein (Matrix Gla Protein) found in in arterial vessel walls is regulated by vitamin K₂. Together, they inhibit calcium deposits responsible for the plaque along the arteries. This is the reason why having adequate levels of vitamin K₂ in the body is very important to regulate blood pressure, and a healthy cardiovascular system.

Vitamin K₂ risk for health

MK-4 is a water soluble compound, and there is no known toxicity associated with high doses of menaquinones (Vitamin K₂), since it is not stored in the liver.