What are the Functions of Vitamin B6?

What Foods Provide Vitamin B6?

Pyridoxine occurs naturally in many foods and is added to other foods. You can get the recommended amount of vitamin B6 by eating a variety of foods, including:

• Poultry, fish and organ meats rich in vitamin B6
• Potatoes and other starchy vegetables
• Fruits (other than citrus)

What Types of Vitamin B6 Dietary Supplements Are Available?

Vitamin B6 is found in dietary supplements, usually in the form of pyridoxine. Most multivitamin and mineral supplements contain vitamin B6. Dietary supplements are also available that contain pyridoxine alone or with other B vitamins.

Vitamin B6 Types for Pyridoxine/B6 Deficiency

Original B6 vitamin supplement varieties that will meet your daily vitamin B6 needs are on bikalite.com

 

Am I Getting Enough Vitamin B6?

People who eat healthily get enough pyridoxine from the foods they eat. However, certain groups of people are more likely to have problems taking pyridoxine than others:

• People whose kidneys are not working properly, including those on kidney dialysis and those who have had a kidney transplant
• People with autoimmune disorders that cause their immune system to mistakenly attack their own healthy tissue. For example, people with rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or inflammatory bowel disease sometimes have low levels of vitamin B6.
• People with alcohol addiction

What Happens If I Don't Get Enough Vitamin B6?

People who don't get enough vitamin B6 may have a range of symptoms, including anemia, itchy rashes, scaly skin on the lips, cracks in the corners of the mouth, and a swollen tongue. Other symptoms of very low vitamin B6 levels include depression, confusion, and a weak immune system. Babies who don't get enough pyridoxine may become irritable or develop hypersensitive hearing or seizures.

What Are Some Effects of Vitamin B6 on Health?

Scientists are studying vitamin B6 to understand how it affects health. Here are the examples revealed by this research:

Cardiovascular disease: Some scientists had thought that certain B vitamins ( such as folic acid/B9 , vitamin B12 , and vitamin B6) might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid. Although B vitamin supplements lower blood homocysteine, research shows that they do not actually reduce the risk or severity of heart disease or stroke.

Cancer: People with low blood levels of vitamin B6 may have a higher risk of certain types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer. But research to date has not shown that vitamin B6 supplements can help prevent cancer or reduce the risk of dying from this disease.

Cognitive function: Some research shows that seniors with high blood levels of vitamin B6 have better memory. However, taking vitamin B6 supplements (alone or with vitamin B12 and/or folic acid) does not seem to improve cognitive function or mood in healthy people or people with dementia.

Premenstrual syndrome: Scientists are not yet sure about the potential benefits of taking vitamin B6 for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). But some research shows that vitamin B6 supplements may reduce PMS symptoms such as moodiness, irritability, forgetfulness, bloating and anxiety.

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: At least half of all women experience nausea, vomiting, or both during the first few months of pregnancy. Based on the results of various studies, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends taking vitamin B6 supplements under the supervision of a doctor for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Can Pyridoxine/Vitamin B6 Be Harmful?

People almost never get too much vitamin B6 from food or drink. However, taking high levels of pyridoxine from supplements for a year or longer can cause serious nerve damage, causing people to lose control of their body movements. The symptoms usually stop when they stop taking the supplements. Other symptoms of too much vitamin B6 include painful, unsightly skin patches, extreme sensitivity to sunlight, nausea, and heartburn.

Upper daily limits for vitamin B6 include intakes from all sources (food, beverages and supplements) and are listed below. These levels do not apply to people taking vitamin B6 for medical reasons under the supervision of a doctor.