No, vitamin B11 does not exist as an officially recognized vitamin.
The term "vitamin B11" has historically been used to refer to certain nutrients, but these are not currently recognized as official vitamins. Here's a breakdown:
Understanding the Vitamin B Complex
The B vitamins are a group of water-soluble vitamins that play essential roles in various metabolic processes. However, not every substance once considered a B vitamin retains that classification.
Why B11 is Not a Vitamin
According to the provided reference: "The above-listed nutrients are no longer labeled vitamins, as they no longer fit the official definition of a vitamin; essential and required for normal human growth and are required to be obtained by diet because they can't be manufactured by the human body." This statement explains why some formerly labeled vitamins are no longer considered vitamins. In the case of B11, it does not fully meet the specific criteria to be a vitamin.
What Was Once Called Vitamin B11?
The term “vitamin B11” has been used to refer to several substances including:
- Pteroylglutamic acid, also commonly known as folic acid or folate. Although crucial for health, it's classified as a folate, not vitamin B11.
- Other substances that were once hypothesized to be B vitamins may also have been referred to as B11 but were not ultimately confirmed as vitamins.
Key Points
- Nutrients are not considered vitamins unless they meet the criteria of being:
- Essential for normal growth.
- Required in the diet because the body cannot produce them.
- Folate, which is sometimes associated with "vitamin B11", is a crucial nutrient but has a distinct classification as a vitamin.
In summary, although some nutrients may have been referred to as vitamin B11 historically, it is not a vitamin recognized in modern nutritional science. These substances, especially folate, play a crucial role in human health but have their own specific classifications.
