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“Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) facts”
Interesting facts about vitamin B6 (pyridoxine):
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that it is easily absorbed in the body (as most of the body is made of water and so are most of the foods eaten), but some of it may be lost in cooking.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is required to convert carbohydrates into glucose for energy, which every single cell of the body requires to function properly.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is required to convert foods rich in protein, into amino acids and then into the respective proteins the body requires for various metabolic processes.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is really vital for a healthy nervous system. One of the neurotransmitters responsible for normalising mood - serotonin - needs adequate intake of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) to be able to be synthesised. Other neurotransmitters and chemicals in the brain are also dependent on adequate intake of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) to be able to be synthesised. Research suggests there is a link between low levels of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and mental disorders such as depression.
A number of studies have shown that when people with carpal tunnel syndrome or RSI (repetitive strain injury) were supplemented with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), they had significant improvement of symptoms (weakness and pain of the affected wrist and hand), especially when the supplements were combined with vitamin B2 (riboflavin).
Research shows that babies that are fed baby formula that has low (less than the RDI) levels of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) they suffer from more convulsion, weight loss, irritation and stomach problems. These symptoms were eliminated when the baby formula was changed to one with adequate levels of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). In addition, research also shows that vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) supplementation for children with epilepsy has reduced the number of epileptic seizures they experienced. Other research has shown that children with autism have shown some improvement in their condition when they were supplemented with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) together with magnesium.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is necessary for maintaining healthy blood and blood vessels. It is needed to help the body synthesise iron intake from foods into haemoglobin (which is needed to carry oxygen to the cells) and for making healthy red blood cells and the white blood cell antibodies that are responsible for providing immunity to certain viruses and bacteria. This means that a lack of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) may lead to anaemia and a lowered immune response, leading to more infections.
A great deal of the vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) in foods is lost when the foods are frozen, so eating fresh foods is best to get the recommended daily intake of this vitamin.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is the key nutrient that the immune system needs to make the infection-fighting antibodies that fight illness. Without vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), the immune system would not work properly and ill health would ensue.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) helps to lower levels of the amino acid by-product homocysteine, which is linked to heart attack and stroke. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) helps to convert homocysteine into the beneficial amino acid methionine, which enables the liver in its detoxification duties.
People who have a much higher risk for heart conditions such as - stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and coronary artery disease, usually have much lower levels of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) in their blood. Research also shows that vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) may help to prevent hardening of the arteries, a condition called arteriosclerosis, which is a major risk factor for heart attack and in fact, people who do have much lower than normal levels of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) are also at a higher risk of suffering a heart attack than people with healthy normal levels.
Many studies show that many women find relief from a number of symptoms associated with PMS, such as irritability, painful and swollen breasts, fluid retention, headache and fatigue when they are supplemented with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). It seems that vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) has a diuretic action, which promotes the elimination of excess amounts of fluid (which is one of the main symptoms of PMS).
Research shows that people with asthma may not be absorbing and using the vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) they get from their foods properly and may benefit from supplementation which could reduce symptoms such as wheezing and coughing and could reduce the frequency and severity of any asthmatic attacks they experience.
Research shows that diabetics that experience neuropathy, which is tingling and pain in the extremities may benefit from vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) supplementation because one of the the symptoms of deficiency of this vitamin is exactly that - tingling and pain in the extremities. In addition, people with diabetes tend to have lower levels of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) than people without diabetes.
Research shows that people that suffer from the calcium oxalate type of kidney stones may have reduced incidence and recurrence of the kidney stones forming if they are supplemented with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and magnesium.
Studies show that women who experience morning sickness during pregnancy may benefit from a small supplement of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) to reduce their symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women with morning sickness who want to try vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) need to talk to their doctor before trying it and must not exceed the tolerable upper limit.
Research shows that people with depression and who have low levels of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) experience an improvement of their symptoms when they are supplemented with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). Research also shows that people with depression who have normal levels of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) do not seem to experience a reduction in their symptoms.
Processed grain foods (breads) have lost their vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), through the very process of milling the flour and removing all the whole grain parts. Whole grains on the other hand, have all their vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) intact, so are more preferable, even when the processed foods are enriched with various vitamins.
At the very least, the recommended daily intake of magnesium is required in order for vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) to be activated and to perform its various actions.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) works in synergy with vitamin C and selenium to perform its various duties.
In addition, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), around the same dosage amount as vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is required when supplementation is used, as these vitamins work synergistically together.
Disclaimer: The advice on this site should be viewed as a general guideline only and it should not replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your medical or health care provider to get the advice and care for your particular and individual health, nutrition, diet and fitness circumstances.