| Vitamin B6 is one of the eight water-soluble B vitamins. | | | | vitamin B6 to help convert stored carbohydrate or |
| It was originally isolated in the mid-1930. Vitamin B6 has | | | | other nutrients to glucose to maintain normal blood |
| the maximum number of chemical structures - all begin | | | | sugar levels. Dosage of Vitamin B 6 - The |
| with the letters "pyr," and include pyridoxine (PN), | | | | Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin |
| pyridoxal (PL), pyridoxamine (PM), pyridoxine | | | | B6 (in milligrams) is - * 1.3 mg for men and women |
| phosphate (PNP), pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), and | | | | under age 50 * 1.7 mg for men and 1.5 mg for women |
| pyridoxamine phosphate (PMP). PLP is the most active | | | | over the age of 50 * 1.9 mg for pregnant women, and |
| coenzyme form, and has the maximum importance in | | | | * 2 mg for lactating women. Vitamin B6 can be found |
| human metabolism This vitamin was initially not known | | | | as multivitamins, B complex vitamins. People who eat a |
| by this name, but was referred to as the "antidermatitis | | | | balanced diet containing good sources of vitamin B6 |
| factor." This was because, it was noticed that skin | | | | should be able to meet the daily requirement without |
| inflammation (dermatitis) increased whenever there | | | | taking a supplement. Vitamin B6 supplements should |
| was a decrease in intake of foods containing Vitamin | | | | always be taken with water, preferably after a meal. |
| B6. Benefits of vitamin B6 - * Pyridoxine helps in the | | | | Deficiency of vitamin B6 - Vitamin B6 deficiency |
| proper functioning of the cells of the nervous and | | | | symptoms are quite similar to those of B2 and B3, as |
| muscular system. * Pyridoxine is also known as a | | | | B6 is needed by the body to manufacture its own B3 |
| "woman's vitamin" because it helps relieve symptoms | | | | vitamin. * The skin is among the first to show up |
| of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) such as | | | | deficiency of Vitamin B6. Many skin disorders have |
| pre-menstrual fluid retention, severe period pains, | | | | been associated with B6 deficiency, such as eczema, |
| emotional PMS symptoms, premenstrual acne, and | | | | acne, allergies and seborrheic dermatitis. . Symptoms |
| nausea/vomiting in early pregnancy. It also helps | | | | may include nails that are uneven, a sore tongue |
| balance hormonal changes in women. * It aids in the | | | | (glossitis) as well as changes in bones - which can |
| production of DNA and RNA, the body's genetic | | | | include osteoporosis and arthritis. * Kidney stones may |
| material. * B6 also helps in the movement of | | | | also appear. * Irritability, nervousness and insomnia as |
| sulfur-containing molecules around the body, as that is | | | | well as general weakness are other associated |
| very important for hormonal balance and elimination of | | | | symptoms. * Neural problems also erupt when there is |
| toxic substances through the liver. * It is essential for | | | | a lack of Vitamin B6. Symptoms can include |
| the proper absorption of vitamin B12; as well as for the | | | | convulsions, confusion, and seizures in the case of |
| production of red blood cells (haemoglobin). Vitamin B6 | | | | severe deficiency. * Other deficiency related problems |
| also helps increase the amount of oxygen carried by | | | | include anemia, depression, and fatigue. When anaemia |
| haemoglobin. * B6 is also an "anti-stress" vitamin | | | | is entirely related to B6 deficiency, it is usually classified |
| because it improves the activity of the immune | | | | as pernicious anaemia. Who are at risk of Vitamin B6 |
| system, and develops the body's ability to resist | | | | deficiency? Vitamin B6 deficiency usually occurs in |
| stressful situations. * Pyridoxine is considered beneficial | | | | individuals who eat poor quality food that is scarce in |
| for children with difficulty in learning, as well as assisting | | | | many nutrients. Symptoms usually occur during later |
| in the prevention of dandruff, eczema and psoriasis. * It | | | | stages of deficiency, when the poor intake has |
| helps maintain sodium and potassium balance in the | | | | prolonged for quite some time. Alcoholics and older |
| body. Supposed to provide immunity against cancer | | | | adults are more likely to have inadequate vitamin B6 |
| and resist the formation of the toxic chemical | | | | intake. Alcohol promotes the destruction and loss of |
| homocysteine, which increases the risk of | | | | vitamin B6 from the body. Some asthmatic children |
| cardio-vascular diseases. * Mood swings, irritability, | | | | treated with a particular drug, may need to take a |
| depression as well as loss of sexual drive may be at | | | | vitamin B6 supplement. Rich dietary sources of Vitamin |
| times linked to B6 deficiency. * It helps maintain the | | | | B6 - Good dietary sources of vitamin B6 include |
| health of the lymphoid system (thymus, spleen, and | | | | chicken, tuna, salmon, shrimp, brewer's yeast, lentils, |
| lymph nodes) that produces white blood cells in the | | | | soyabean, nuts, peas, walnuts, bananas, peanut butter, |
| body. A vitamin B6 deficiency can decrease a | | | | carrots, brown rice, bran, sunflower seeds, wheat |
| person's antibody production and suppress immune | | | | germ, and whole-grain flour. Pyridoxine is sensitive to |
| response altogether. * Vitamin B6 is also very | | | | sunlight; cooking and processing, so watch out while |
| important for the conversion of tryptophan (an amino | | | | cooking! Exercising may aid the production of the |
| acid) to niacin (vitamin B3). * Hemoglobin within red | | | | active form of vitamin B6. Do medications affect |
| blood cells carries oxygen to tissues. Your body needs | | | | vitamin B6? Some prescription medications lead to |
| vitamin B6 to make hemoglobin. A vitamin B6 | | | | depletion of the body's B6. These medications include |
| deficiency can result in a form of anemia that is similar | | | | birth control pills and oral estrogens; diuretics, |
| to iron deficiency anemia. * Vitamin B6 also helps | | | | anti-epileptic drugs, asthma-related drugs, tuberculosis |
| maintain the blood glucose (sugar) within a normal | | | | drugs and anti-fibrotic drugs. |
| range. When caloric intake is less, the body uses | | | | |