What Is the Function of Vitamin T?

Vitamins are organic compounds that are necessary for life but that cannot be synthesized, or manufactured, by the human body and must be obtained through food or supplements. Deficiencies can occur when minimal amounts of the substances are not ingested through food or supplements result in disease that is often diagnostic of the specific nutritional deficit. Torulitine, said to be a vitamin by some nutritional groups, is also known as "Vitamin T." This substance remains essentially unrecognized as a true vitamin by most Western medical authorities. Torulitine is found in sesame seeds and eggs and said to be important in blood clotting and proper operation of the nervous system.

Generally, vitamins are classified as either fat- or water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D or K are essential for the body's architecture and structural development; water-soluble vitamins such as C are more generally involved in the body's metabolism of food into energy. Vitamin T is water-soluble but is said to be involved in both structural functions in the body, such as clotting and strengthening of red blood cells, and energy functions of the brain and nervous system. This substance is water-soluble and so excess amounts are not stored in the body for future use, but excreted.

In addition to those benefits noted above, other functions of vitamin T are said to include aiding memory and concentration, protection against anemia and keeping the nervous system operating at an optimal rate. Unique among other vitamins, vitamin T is also claimed to be essential in the human body's conversion of carbohydrates into energy. It is perhaps for this reason that torulitine is also recommended in some weight-loss programs. There are no specific deficiency diseases associated with lack of vitamin T that could not be accounted for under laboratory-measured deficits of folic acid, niacin and the B-vitamins.

Most websites that mention vitamin T or torulitine are maintained by vendors selling vitamins and other nutritional supplements. Vitamin T is not listed as a vitamin by popular and reputable medical websites, or US governmental food and drug regulatory sites. There is little information, therefore, on its specific effects on the body and no recommended daily allowance (RDA) amounts are available to assist in consumption of this supplement. Some references consider vitamin T to be a mix of folic acid and B vitamins.