🤔 Does Vitamin B4 Exist?

Technically speaking:
Vitamin B4 is not officially recognized as a vitamin anymore.

However, the name "Vitamin B4" has been used in the past to refer to a few different substances—most commonly:

🧬 1. Adenine

• A purine base found in DNA and RNA

• Once considered a vitamin due to its role in metabolism

• Now classified as a non-essential nutrient (your body can make it)

🌱 2. Choline (sometimes also referred to as B4)

• Often grouped with the B-vitamin family due to its similar functions

• Recognized today as a separate essential nutrient, not officially a B vitamin

🧪 What Role Did B4 (Adenine/Choline) Play?

🧠 If referring to Choline:

• Supports brain development and neurotransmitter production (acetylcholine)

• Important for liver health and fat metabolism

• Crucial during pregnancy for fetal brain development

• Found in: eggs, soy, beef liver, salmon, quinoa

🔬 If referring to Adenine:

• Involved in DNA/RNA structure

• Essential for ATP production (adenosine triphosphate = cellular energy)

• Your body makes it, so it’s not essential through diet

❓ So Why Was It "Declassified"?

• It was once called a vitamin because it was thought to be essential from the diet

• But later research showed the body can synthesize it

• Therefore, it no longer fits the definition of a vitamin:

  “A compound the body cannot make in sufficient amounts and must get from food.”

🧠 Final Thoughts

Vitamin B4 is part of nutrition history—a former vitamin that taught us more about cellular energy, genetics, and brain health.

• Adenine: still vital, just not a dietary requirement

• Choline: essential nutrient, often mislabeled as B4