Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine

Food sources of vitamin B6 pyridoxine:

 Brewer's yeast, meat, whole grains, legumes, egg yolk, fish, sunflower seeds, walnuts, peanuts, avocado, bananas, blackstrap molasses, and green leafy vegetables.

Functions of vitamin B6 pyridoxine:

Vitamin B6 inhibits the formation of homocysteine a toxic chemical which attacks heart muscle and allows the deposition of of cholesterol around the heart muscle. Viamin B6 is involved in hormone synthesis, and neurotransmitter synthesis including dopaminem serotonin, nor adrenalin, GABA and histamine. It has a mild diuretic action reducing the symptoms of premenstrual tension, and it generally aids in the prevention of fluid build up in the tissues which may assist weight loss. It is involved in sugar metabolism, and in the metabolism of essential fatty acids, the latter having an important effect on inflammatory diseases, auto immune and cardiovascular disease.B6 is also important in the metabolism of certain minerals, particularly magnesium.

Deficiency symptoms of vitamin B6 pyridoxine:

Anemia, convulsions, headache, abdominal distress, nausea, skin lesions, sore tongue, vomiting, depression, hyperirritability, kidney stones, neuronal dysfunction,weak memory, hair loss, arthritis, conjunctivitis, impaired wound healing, inflammation of mouth and gums, premenstrual fluid retention, and learning difficulties. Carpal tunnel syndrome may also be associated with vitamin B6 deficiency.

Factors increasing the demand for vitamin B6 pyridoxine:

Parkinson's disease, male sexual disorders, diabetes, schizophrenia, pregnancy, lactation, kidney stones, radium therapy, ageing, estrogen therapy, alcoholism, kidney disease, excessive coffee, tea, and alcohol consumption, and smoking.

Loss of vitamin B6 pyridoxine:

Vitamin B6 is damaged by light, considerable losses occur in the milling of grain, and in cooking.

Therapeutic uses for vitamin B6:

It may be used to help control diabetes, to help improve skin ailments, its diuretic properties are of use in those who have hypertensive disease. It helps to boost immune activity, improves athletic performance, increases hormone response, and protects against cancer. It is used to treat muscular disorders, nausea of pregnancy, carpal tunnel syndrome, Parkinson's disease, asthma, atherosclerosis, Crohn's disease, learning difficulties, and memory deficits. Schizophrenia pyrroluria is aided with B6, photosensitivity, allergies, autism, coeliac disease, mental retardation,and stress.

Drugs affecting B6:

Estrogen therapy, steroids, Isoniazid, Cycloserine, Reserpine, amphetamines, Hydrazides, Insulin, Iron, Marijuana, Hydroxylamine, Thiosimicarbazide, Amniooxyacetic acid, Chlorpromazine. Ref: Henry Osiecki B.sc(Hons) Grad Dip Nutr and Dietics. Nutrients in Profile.

Dosage and toxicity of vitamin B6 pyridoxine:

The requirements for B6 vary with the intake of protein, those with a high protein diet will require more than the RDA which is 2mg per day for a diet containing 100 gms of protein.

No more than 50mg per day should be taken without the advice of a physician

Vitamin B6 should always be taken with the other B complex vitamins. Taking large doses of vitamin B6 may produce significant side effects, there have been reports of nerve damage as a result of the long term use of B6,  such as co-ordination problems, and tonic convulsions. These conditions have reversed when the B6 was discontinued.

Read more:Vitamin B12