Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin required by your body for a variety of functions. Vitamin B6 is a vitamin that benefits the central nervous system and metabolism, according to Yvette Brazier of Medical News Today. Its functions include converting food into energy and assisting in the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. Because your body cannot produce vitamin B6, it must be obtained from foods or supplements. Most people get enough vitamin B6 from their diet, but some people are at risk of deficiency. According to Hanjo Hellmann and colleagues, getting enough vitamin B6 is essential for good health and may even help prevent and treat chronic diseases.
Because your body cannot produce vitamin B6, it must be obtained from foods or supplements, according to Lizzie Streit of Healthline. Although most people get enough vitamin B6 from their diet, some are at risk of deficiency. Getting enough vitamin B6, according to Hanjo Hellmann and colleagues, is essential for good health and may even help prevent and treat chronic diseases. Vitamin B6 may also help to lower high levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood, which has been linked to depression and other psychiatric problems.
Lizzie Streit also stated that vitamin B6 may help improve brain function and prevent Alzheimer's disease, but research is mixed. On the one hand, B6 can lower high homocysteine levels in the blood, which may increase the risk of Alzheimer's. However, vitamin B6 has not been proven to be effective in improving brain health in studies. Vitamin B6 may be useful in preventing and treating anemia caused by deficiency due to its role in hemoglobin production. Hemoglobin is a protein that transports oxygen throughout your body. When your hemoglobin levels are low, your cells do not receive enough oxygen. As a result, you may develop anemia and feel fatigued or weak. Low vitamin B6 levels have been linked to anemia, particularly in pregnant women and women of childbearing age.
Vitamin B6 has also been used to treat premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and irritability. Researchers believe that B6 helps with emotional symptoms associated with PMS because of its role in the production of neurotransmitters that regulate mood. While these findings are encouraging, they are limited by the small sample size and short duration. Before recommendations can be made, more research on the safety and effectiveness of vitamin B6 in alleviating PMS symptoms is required. For decades, vitamin B6 has also been used to treat nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. In fact, it's a component of Diclegis, a medication used to treat morning sickness. According to these studies, vitamin B6 is effective in treating morning sickness for as little as one week. Before beginning any supplements, consult your doctor if you want to take B6 for morning sickness.
Vitamin B6 can be obtained through food or supplements. The current recommended daily allowance (RDA) for B6 for adults over the age of 19 is 1.3-1.7 mg, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. A balanced diet that includes vitamin-B6-rich foods like turkey, chickpeas, tuna, salmon, potatoes, and bananas can provide this amount for most healthy adults. Studies on the use of vitamin B6 to prevent and treat health problems have focused on supplements rather than food sources.
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that can be obtained through diet or supplementation. It is required for many processes in your body, including the production of neurotransmitters and the regulation of homocysteine levels. High doses of B6 have been used to prevent or treat a variety of health conditions, including PMS, AMD, and nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Lizzie Streit emphasized that getting enough B6 through your diet or a supplement is essential for staying healthy and may have additional health benefits.
ZDS DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
References:
1. Health Benefits of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD on October 1, 2018
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-b6-benefits
2. The benefits and food sources of vitamin B6
Medically reviewed by Lisa Hodgson, RDN, CDN, CDCES, FADCES, Nutrition — By Yvette Brazier — Updated on December 17, 2020
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219662
3. Vitamin B6: a molecule for human health?
Hanjo Hellmann, Sutton Mooney
