Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble B vitamin. It performs a wide variety of functions in the human body and is essential for good health. Vitamin B6 is needed by over 100 enzymes involved in protein metabolism and regulation of homocysteine. Homocysteine is an amino-acid produced by the body, usually as a byproduct of eating meat.

High blood levels of homocysteine may increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. Elevated homocysteine may also increase the risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Benefits of Vitamin B6

• Vitamin B6 supplementation helps maintain normal levels of the homocystein amino acid.
• Vitamin B6 is also essential for red blood cell metabolism. The human body needs vitamin B6 to make hemoglobin. Vitamin B6 also helps increase the amount of oxygen carried by hemoglobin.The nervous and immune systems need vitamin B6 to function efficiently.
• Vitamin B6 is important to the immune system as it helps maintain the health of organs that make white blood cells. Animal studies show that a vitamin B6 deficiency can decrease antibody production and suppress immune response. Vitamin B6 also helps maintain blood glucose (sugar) levels within a normal range.
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) aids you by turning the body’s fuel (protein, fat, carbohydrates, etc.) into energy in addition to working with the immune and nervous systems to aid in proper development of the brain, nerves and the skin. Like vitamin B12, it is also crucial in counteracting the effects of brain shrinkage in people affected with Alzheimer’s disease. This is linked with the fact that the B complex vitamins and also, folic acid, can lower homocysteine levels which are known to cause brain cell damage. A study by Y.Schwammenthal and D.Tanne (Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel) indicates that while it lowers the homocysteine level, it also reduces the risk for vascular diseases such as stroke. Though most of these benefits resulting from such studies may need further confirmation, Vitamin B6 is already being used to treat some of the cited diseases. [1]
• Successes of vitamin B6 include its efficiency in treatment and prevention of pyridoxine deficiency, sideroblastic anemia and some types of seizures in infants. A research by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chiang Mai University in Thailand suggests that Vitamin B6 can be used for treating stomach upsets and vomiting among pregnant women. Other benefits include prevention of kidney stones in people with type I primary hyperoxaluria, prevention of macular degeneration and prevention of re-blockage of blood vessels after. [2]

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Additional Information

Vitamin B6 Dosages

The recommended daily intakes of Vitamin B6 are: for infants 0.1 mg( 0-6 months) and 0.3 mg (7-12 months); children should take 0.5 mg (1-3 years), 0.6 mg (4-8 years) and 1 mg ( 9-13 years. The intake for male should be 1.3 mg ( 14-50 years) and  1.7 mg (over 50 years) while females should take 1.2 mg (14-18 years), 1.3 mg (19-50 years) and 1.5 mg (over 50 years). Pregnant and breastfeeding women should take 1.9 mg and 2 mg respectively. It is also advisable that women aged 19-50 years should increase their daily intake to 1.5-1.7 mg per day. 

Vitamin B6 Side Effects

Generally, vitamin B6 does works well in the body but one should take care not to consume in excess because it can lead to serious neurological side effects. Since it plays a vital role in the nervous system it can easily damage (if taken in excess) the sensory nerves, leading to numbness or tingling. Other side effects to look out for include fatigue, breathing problems, stomach upsets, chest pain, skin rashes and loss of appetite.