Vitamin B6, Benefits, Buy Vitamin B6 - Buy Vitamins, Buy Minerals

Vitamin B6 is available in three primary forms, namely pyridoxal, pyridoxine and pyridoxamine. Each of these is water soluble, and fulfills a wide range of roles in the body.

Vitamin B6 is an essential component of over a hundred enzymes crucial to the metabolizing of protein. B6 also plays a role in metabolizing red blood cells, and it is a component in the conversion of tryptophan into niacin.

Vitamin B6 is required for the creation of red blood cells. Without red blood cells, the tissues of your body would receive no oxygen and you would find yourself in some very deep trouble indeed. Supplementing with vitamin B6 to the recommended daily levels can even increase the amount of oxygen that your red blood cells can carry, and thus it is an essential part of any athletes nutrition program, and can have a beneficial effect on mental agility, which is to some extent dependent on good blood circulation.

Your immune system needs vitamin B6 in order to function correctly, as it helps support the growth of essential white blood cells which are involved in fighting infections, as well as a variety of other process vital to maintaining a healthy immune response. Vitamin B6 is a factor in the maintenance of a healthy spleen and related organs, which manufacture white blood cells, and a deficiency in vitamin B6 can cause, amongst other things, a weak immune system response including depleted levels of antibodies.

Vitamin B6 is also needed to assist in the maintenance of a healthy blood sugar level. It does this primarily by helping turn carbohydrate reserves into glucose when food supplies of glucose are low. Vitamin B6 deficiency will inhibit this function to some extent, but it is not something that a normal, healthy adult will usually have to worry about.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that enable nerve cells to communicate with each other and are a critical part of how our brains work. Vitamin B6 plays an important role in the synthesis of important neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin, and a deficiency in vitamin B6 may lead to any number of potential neurological problems, including headaches and depression. Studies are also underway to examine a possible link between vitamin B6 deficiency and Parkinson’s disease, though these are at an early stage. Vitamin B6 has not yet been proven effective in treating depression or remedying some of the possible effects of its own shortage.

Another potential use for vitamin B6 supplements is to treat the repetitive strain injury known as carpal tunnel syndrome. Several studies have indicated that B6 was able to relieve the symptoms of sufferers of the condition, though they also warned about the possible side-effects of taking excessive quantities of vitamin B6, including possible neuropathy.

Some women also swear by vitamin B6 supplements as a remedy for premenstrual syndrome, reporting that it decreased their level of discomfort and irritability, though clinical trials are yet to confirm this particular benefit or the action behind it.

Vitamin B6 deficiency, in a similar way to other B-vitamin deficiencies, may increase blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which has been linked in several studies to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. The theory is that high levels of this amino acid may cause damage to blood vessels and/or promote platelet cells in the blood to clump together, greatly increasing a person’s risk of suffering a fatal blood clot. More investigation is needed into this particular side-effect of vitamin B6 deficiency and potential remedies.

It is not recommended to exceed the recommended daily amount of vitamin B6, as with most other vitamin and mineral supplements. The health benefits of stacking up on B6 are marginal at best, while the risks of overdosing include potential nerve damage, particularly to the arms and legs. This nerve damage is usually reversible when the excess intake of vitamin B6 stops, but it is still a worry and may cause long-term damage. The absolute upper level of tolerance for vitamin B6 in healthy adults is 100mg per day for healthy adults, and there is absolutely no reason at all to exceed this dosage.

The ideal source of vitamin B6, as with most nutrients, is good, wholesome, fresh food. Fresh fish, lean meat, nuts, beans, eggs and milk are all traditionally good sources of vitamin B6, as is fortified breakfast cereal (which is the vast majority of breakfast cereal these days). However, it is not always possible to ensure that you are getting the correct amounts of vitamin B6 on a regular basis, especially with modern diets and eating patterns being what they are, and so supplementing with vitamin B6, usually as part of a multivitamin or other daily supplement program, is recommended for most people.

Vitamin B6 may cause problems when taken in conjunction with some other medications. Patients taking the tuberculosis treatment Isoniazid, as well as those on a course of L-DOPA (a popular drug in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease), should consult with their doctors before deciding on the best course of action regarding vitamin B6 supplements, which may be beneficial in some cases and not in others.

Always speak with your doctor if symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency, or any other potential symptoms of illness, persist for more than a 48 hour period.