Vitamin B13; Deficiency Symptoms, Food Source, Health Benefit

Last updated: February 7, 2026Reviewed date: February 7, 2026Reading time: 4 min read

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For severe symptoms, danger signs, pregnancy, child illness, or sudden worsening, seek urgent medical care.

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Article Summary

Vitamin B13 (orotic acid) is involved in the synthesis of phospholipids, nucleic acids, bilirubin. This material is non-toxic, since there are no side effects from its excess in the body. The daily requirement for each person may vary depending on age, presence of severe disease, exercise, diet.It also helps your body absorb and use the minerals magnesium and calcium. This vitamin is water soluble and is rapidly degraded...

Key Takeaways

This article explains Symptoms of Vitamin B13 Deficiency in simple medical language.
This article explains Food Source of Vitamin B13 in simple medical language.
This article explains Health Benefits of Vitamin B13 in simple medical language.
This article explains Physiological Functions in simple medical language.

Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.

Reviewed content workflowUse writer and reviewer profiles for stronger trust.

Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Seek urgent medical care if you notice

These warning signs are general safety guidance. Local emergency numbers and clinical judgment should always come first.

Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
New weakness, severe pain, high fever, or symptoms after a serious injury.
Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.

Emergency now

Use emergency care for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening symptoms.

See a doctor

Book a professional medical evaluation if symptoms persist, worsen, recur often, affect daily activities, or occur in a high-risk patient.

Learn safely

Use this article to understand possible causes, tests, treatment options, prevention, and questions to ask your clinician.

Vitamin B13 (orotic acid) is involved in the synthesis of phospholipids, nucleic acids, jaundice. সহজ বাংলা: জন্ডিসে বাড়তে পারে এমন হলুদ রঞ্জক।" data-rx-term="bilirubin" data-rx-definition="Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that can build up in jaundice. সহজ বাংলা: জন্ডিসে বাড়তে পারে এমন হলুদ রঞ্জক।">bilirubin. This material is non-toxic, since there are no side effects from its excess in the body. The daily requirement for each person may vary depending on age, presence of severe disease, exercise, diet.It also helps your body absorb and use the minerals magnesium and calcium.

This vitamin is water soluble and is rapidly degraded under the influence of temperature.

Symptoms of Vitamin B13 Deficiency

It is rare for orotic acid deficiency to occur, but if it does symptoms can include:

Cell degeneration
Heart problems
Premature aging
Mental retardation
Anemia
The appearance of crystals in the urine
Degeneration of cells
Impaired immunity
Low vitamin B12 levels
Problems related to heart
Weight gain
Large and abnormal sized blood cells
Skin problems
Disorders within the liver
Mental retardation
Complaints of premature aging
Lower immunity
Crystallized urine
Skin problems
Liver disorders
Large blood cells
Vitamin B12 deficiency

Food Source of Vitamin B13

The top vitamin B13 food sources are listed below

Animal sources: These include meat especially the beef.
Plant sources: It is found in the whey as well as in certain vegetables.
Parsnips
Liver
Yeast
Dairy products
Root vegetables
Yogurt
Whey powder

Health Benefits of Vitamin B13

Vitamin B13 offers several different health benefits. It is essential for determining whether or not someone has an ammonia disorder linked to their metabolism.

Maintains healthy hair and skin.
Helps prevent premature aging.
Reduces risk of heart attack.
Used for treating various heart and liver diseases.
Aids in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).
cirrhosis,
heart failure, chronic type,
viral hepatitis,
gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer,
infectious disease,
nephropathy,
post-operative recovery period.
Vitamin B13 activates the processes of hematopoiesis, for erythrocytes and leukocytes .
It stimulates protein synthesis.
Has beneficial effect on liver function and improves its performance.
Involved in the transformation of pantothenic and folic acid.
Participates in the synthesis of the amino acid methionine, and is essential for the body.
Vitamin B13 is favorable for the treatment of diseases of the heart and liver. There is evidence that it increases the ability to fertility and improves the process of development of the fetus during pregnancy.
Orotic acid reduces the risk of anemia and even can prevent the premature aging

Physiological Functions

It is important for metabolism of folic acid and the vitamin B12.
Vitamin B13 (Orotic Acid) is found to be important in genetics.
It is used in the treatment of certain heart diseases as well as liver diseases.
It is good in the treatment of dangerous diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).
Vitamin B13 provides health to the skin as well as the hairs and nails.
It prevents from the aging, particularly premature aging.
It is beneficial in those patients who have suffered from a heart attack; there it may prevent its recurrence in those patients. Especially magnesium orotate which is found useful in reducing the severity of heart diseases of chronic nature. It prevents heart remodeling as well.
Determination of orotic acid is found beneficial in delineating certain causes such as the cause of increasing levels of ammonia (hyperammonemia)
Orotic acid seems to have some direct effects on the metabolism of folic acid. Both the folic acid and orotic acid take parts in DNA synthesis. Its vitamin-like effects are thought to be because of this reason that it helps in DNA and RNA manufacturing in the body.
It is an important indicator of ammonia disorders related to its metabolism that can lead to illnesses or even death in people with inborn errors of metabolism as a result of a defect in urea cycle or other genetic problems. People having abnormal liver functions because of some viral infections, drug abuse or alcoholism and people with bleeding from their digestive tract usually excrete increase levels of orotic acid in their urine.

References

“webmd.com VITAMIN B13 (INOSITOL) OVERVIEW INFORMATION”.
“Vitamin B13 (Para–aminobenzoic acid (PABA)): uses, side effects, interactions and warnings”. WebMD. WebMD, LLC. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
http://deficiencynetwork.com/vitamin-b13-deficiency/
https://www.dailyhealthmagazine.com/vitamin-b13/
https://euromd.com/21-healthy-living/138-beauty-and-fitness/4-vitamins-and-supplements/post-2292-vitamin-b13-why-its-important/
“Para-aminobenzoic acid”. Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia. United States National Institutes of Health.
. Total Nutrition: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need – From The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. St. Martin’s Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-312-11386-5.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_vitamins
CPG Sec. 457.100 Pangamic Acid and Pangamic Acid Products Unsafe for Food and Drug Use”. Compliance Policy Guidance Manual. US Food and Drug Administration. March 1995. Retrieved 25 January 2014.

Vitamin B13; Deficiency Symptoms, Food Source, Health Benefit

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

Write when the problem started and how it changed.
Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
Basic physical examination by a clinician
CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

Drink safe fluids and monitor temperature.
In dengue-prone areas, discuss CBC and platelet count when fever persists or warning signs appear.
Use tepid sponging for high fever discomfort; avoid ice-cold bathing.

OTC medicine safety

For fever, common fever medicine may be discussed with a clinician or pharmacist.
Avoid aspirin/ibuprofen-like medicines in suspected dengue unless a doctor says it is safe.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

Fever with breathing difficulty, confusion, repeated vomiting, bleeding, severe weakness, stiff neck, or dehydration needs urgent care.

Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Doctor / qualified healthcare provider

Tests to discuss with doctor

Basic vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level if needed
Relevant blood, urine, imaging, or specialist tests only after clinical assessment

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
Which tests are really needed now?
Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Go to emergency care if you notice:

Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration

Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.

Step 1
Check danger signs first
If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.
Step 2
Record the symptom story
Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.
Step 3
Visit a qualified clinician
A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.
Step 4
Do only useful tests
Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.
Step 5
Follow up and return early if worse
If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips

Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

RX Patient Help

Ask a health question safely

Write your symptom story. A health professional or site editor can review it before any answer is prepared. This box is not for emergency care.

Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.

References

Add references, clinical guidelines, textbooks, journal articles, or trusted medical sources here. You can edit this area from the RX Article Professional Blocks panel.

Vitamin B13; Deficiency Symptoms, Food Source, Health Benefit

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