This article was taken from the June issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online

Each month Wired's chemist Dr John Emsley, author of nine books and 110 research papers, deconstructs an everyday product. This month: Berocca multivitamin/ mineral supplement

Ingredients

> Citric acid > Sodium hydrogen carbonate > Vitamin C > Magnesium sulphate > Mannitol > Calcium carbonate > Magnesium carbonate > Flavouring > Sodium carbonate > Niacin > Sweeteners > Salt > Zinc citrate > Colour > Pantothenic acid > Maltodextrin > Riboflavin > Thiamin > Acacia gum > Vitamin B6 > Partially hydrogenated soybean oil > Sugar > Trisodium citrate > Antifoaming agent (polysorbate 60) > Folic acid > Vitamin E > Biotin > Vitamin B12


Thiamin (aka thiamine, vitamin B1)

Lack of B1 causes beriberi -- symptoms include weakness, pain, and a swelling of the body. Beriberi is rare in the west.

Pantothenic acid (aka vitamin B5)

Although not linked to a deficiency, it is vital to the body in terms of energy production and coping with stress.

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Folic acid (aka vitamin B9)

A woman who conceives and lacks this vitamin has a high risk of her baby being born with spina bifida (exposed spine).

Sodium carbonate (aka E500)

Reacts with citric acid to make CO bubbles. In glass manufacture, sodium carbonate lowers the melting point of the silica. It is also the water softener in detergents.


Vitamin B12 (aka cobalamin)

Essential in red blood cell production -- too little B12 puts us at risk of anaemia. We need 2mg a day -- 1mg is made by intestinal bacteria. One Berocca gives a week’s supply.

Biotin

Vital to the skin, hair, nerves and sex organs -- again, intestinal bacteria provide most of the 150mg a day which we need. One Berocca supplies 130mg

Niacin (aka nicotinic acid, vitamin B3)

Deficiency causes pellagra, once common in PoW camps. Sufferers develop large sores and depression.


Vitamin E (aka Alpha tocopherol)

Like vitamin C, this is an antioxidant and is claimed to protect the body’s cell membranes from oxidation.

Vitamin C (aka E300)

We need 60mg every day -- a single Berocca has eight times this. Nobel Prize-winner Linus Pauling thought huge doses prevented cancer. It doesn’t.

Vitamin B6

This is essential for making amino acids, which form protein, and for releasing the glucose stored by the body as its source of instant energy.