VITAMINS: Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine)
Overview of Vitamins | Vitamin A (and Beta Carotene) | Biotin (Vitamin H) | Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin) | Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) | Vitamin B-3 (Niacin or Nicotinic Acid) | Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid) | Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine) | Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin) | Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) | Vitamin D | Vitamin E | Folate (Folic Acid) | Inositol | Choline
 
Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine)
Functions of Vitamin B-6
- Necessary for the synthesis & breakdown of amino acids, the building blocks of protein.
- Aids in fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
- Aids in the formation of antibodies.
- Maintains the central nervous system.
- Aids in the removal of excess fluid of premenstrual women.
- Promotes healthy skin.
- Reduces muscle spasms, leg cramps, hand numbness, nausea & stiffness of hands.
- Helps maintain a proper balance of sodium & phosphorous in the body.
Deficiency of Vitamin B-6
- Alterations in the function of the nervous system evidenced by electroencephalography are among the earliest symptoms of vitamin B-6 deficiency.
- Severe deficiency may produce seizures, dermatitis, glossitis, cheilosis, angular stomatitis and anemia.
- deficiencies are rare, but subclinical deficiencies may exist, especially in women and the elderly.
People with an increased risk of Vitamin B-6 deficiency
- Drinkers
- Smokers
- Heavy meat-eaters
- Women on the pill
Recommended dietary allowance for Vitamin B-6
See Recommended dietary allowances for vitamins.
Food sources of Vitamin B-6
White meats (poultry, fish, pork), bananas and whole grains are good sources of vitamin B6.
Clinical uses of Vitamin B-6
- Pyridoxine-dependent seizures.
- Some types of sideroblastic anemias.
- Vitamin B6 in conjunction with folate and vitamin B12 helps to lower plasma homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease.
- Vitamin B6 supplements may be required in conjunction with a number of drugs, which have the side-effect of altering vitamin B6 metabolism.
- Increased concentrations of pyridoxal phosphate in plasma are used as one of the criteria for diagnosing hypophosphatasia.
- Because vitamin B6 metabolism is altered in a variety of disease states, there have been suggestions that vitamin B6 supplements may be beneficial in many other conditions. However, convincing scientific support is not currently available.
References
- Leklem, J. E. (1990) Vitamin B6. In: Handbook of Vitamins (Machlin, L. J., ed.), 2nd ed., pp. 341 - 392, Marcel Dekker, New York, NY
- Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes, Institute of Medicine (1998) Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic acid, Biotin, and Choline. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Overview of Vitamins | Vitamin A (and Beta Carotene) | Biotin (Vitamin H) | Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin) | Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) | Vitamin B-3 (Niacin or Nicotinic Acid) | Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid) | Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine) | Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin) | Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) | Vitamin D | Vitamin E | Folate (Folic Acid) | Inositol | Choline
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