Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
1042487 tn?1275279899

Vitamin B6 benefits

There are a lot of people that are not aware of the proprieties of the vitamins B and their benefits for mood disorders such as depression. Here's how it works.

Vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, is one of eight water-soluble B vitamins. Vitamin B6 serves as coenzyme and is involved in the metabolism of protein and carbohydrates, the production of insulin and red and white blood cells, and the synthesis of neurotransmitters, enzymes, and prostaglandins. Vitamin B6 is essential in numerous biochemical pathways involving red blood cells, the immune system, central nervous system function, protein metabolism, homocysteine metabolism, and also the production of energy. Pyridoxine is an especially important vitamin for maintaining healthy nerve and muscle cells and it aids in the production of DNA and RNA, the body's genetic material. It is necessary for proper absorption of vitamin B12 and for the production of red blood cells and cells of the immune system.

Pyridoxine hydrochloride is the principal form of vitamin B6 used for food fortification and in nutritional supplements. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is also available as a nutritional supplement. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, is involved in a wide range of biochemical reactions, including the metabolism of amino acids and glycogen, the synthesis of nucleic acids, hemogloblin, sphingomyelin and other sphingolipids, and the synthesis of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and gamma-aminobutyric acid ( GABA ). Any person suffering from depression should be aware of the those benefits concerning the serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine and GABA neurotransmitter synthesis.

Vitamin B6 supports more vital bodily functions than any other vitamin. Vitamin B6 is a coenzyme for several enzyme systems. Vitamin B6, used mainly in the body for the processing of amino acids, performs this task along with certain enzymes. It is vital in the metabolism of amino acids in the intestines. It allows the amino acids to be synthesized, broken down and absorbed. The forming of histamine, serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline are dependent on vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is required for the production of serotonin and helps to maintain healthy immune system functions, to protect the heart from cholesterol deposits, and to prevent kidney stone formation.


Vitamin B6 is indicated for the treatment of sideroblast anemia, neurologic disturbances, seborrhoeic dermatitis, and cheilosis. In combination with folic acid and vitamin B12, vitamin B6 lowers homocysteine levels which is an amino acid linked to heart disease and stroke, and possibly other diseases as well, such as osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Pyridoxine is required for the balancing of hormonal changes in women as well as assisting the immune system and the growth of new cells. Vitamin B6 may be helpful in some women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, also known as premenstrual syndrome ( PMS ), and may be useful in some cases of gestational diabetes and for protection against metabolic imbalances associated with the use of some oral contraceptives. Vitamin B6 promotes iron excretion and this has been used as a rationale for treatment in iron storage diseases.

The most common supplemental intake is 10–25 mg per day. However, high amounts ( 100–200 mg per day or even more ) may be recommended for certain conditions.

Vitamin B6 toxicity?

Be careful, vitamin B6 is usually safe, at intakes up to 200 mg per day in adults. However, vitamin B6 can cause neurological disorders, such as loss of sensation in legs and imbalance, when taken in high doses ( 200 mg or more per day ) over a long period of time. Vitamin B6 toxicity can damage sensory nerves, leading to numbness in the hands and feet as well as difficulty walking. Symptoms of a pyridoxine overdose may include poor coordination, staggering, numbness, decreased sensation to touch, temperature, and vibration,; and tiredness for up to six months.

Happy holiday and eat well!
M4
11 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
757137 tn?1347196453
I take the B's in liquid form. When I took the capsules my stomach got upset. I think it was the fillers that did it.
Helpful - 0
1348302 tn?1286575703
Gymdandee wrote...............In reality, patenting these vitamins to treat dementia is like patenting water to treat thirst. But since Big Pharma has been busily slapping patents on everything from niacin to fish oil, it's hardly surprising anymore........

Couldn't agree more. And Health Ins. companies right behind, eager to control the market price of pills and their availability for profit.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
B blend can slow dementia

At first glance, it's a big win for supplements: Researchers say megadoses of B vitamins can dramatically cut back on the conditions that lead to dementia.

But dig a little deeper, and you'll uncover yet another Big Pharma attempt to bully its way into the supplement game.

In this case, the researchers used a patented blend of B6, B12 and folic acid, called TrioBe Plus by the Swiss drug company that makes it.

In a randomized, controlled trial of 168 seniors diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, they found that TrioBe Plus slowed the rate of brain shrinkage by an average of 30 percent, and as much as 53 percent, according to the study in PLoS One.

While all our brains shrink a little as we age, faster shrinkage has been linked to dementia and Alzheimer's disease. But if this B blend turns into a prescription "drug," you can expect rapid shrinkage somewhere else: your wallet!

The authors of this study claim that TrioBe Plus contains such massive doses that it should only be given as a "drug" under the care of a doctor. Of course, since one of the researchers is also a patent holder who could win big if this "drug" hits the market, of course he'd say that.

So I'm going to let you in on a dirty little secret here: This "special" blend contains 800 micrograms of folic acid, 500 micrograms of B12 and 20 milligrams of B6 -- and there's nothing even remotely risky about those levels for most people. In fact, these vitamins are widely available at drugstores and supermarkets in these doses and higher.

In reality, patenting these vitamins to treat dementia is like patenting water to treat thirst. But since Big Pharma has been busily slapping patents on everything from niacin to fish oil, it's hardly surprising anymore.

For the record, the best natural sources of B vitamins are meats, fish and dairy.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had a lot of success with B-6 in the morning and zinc at night (for anxiety).
Helpful - 0
535822 tn?1443976780
yup I love fish actually, but I agree with your assesment and am determined to get better at eating they asked did I eat enough and the answer has always been no I dont ..so another year is about to start and it will be a big one I will need a lot of strength so time to get cracking , I have over exercised in my life and now I need to get going again, you speak the truth...
Helpful - 0
1042487 tn?1275279899
You can refer to the post intended to mkseym just above for the vitamins suggestions.

Breakfast is the most important part of the day. If you have trouble eating good balanced breakfast i recommend cereals that acts as meals replacement like Vector. This brand provide you with a good amount of vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates. Also it is important you drink a full glass of water before and after the breakfast. It is important to take a glass of water before breakfast as the first thing to do when you wake up because it is absorbed quickly and stimulates the drainage and naturally cleanse the system. Also consider adding some Omega-3 supplement if you are not eating fish and the likes.

Best regards,
M4
Helpful - 0
1042487 tn?1275279899
Hello there,

Healthy diet with appropriate nutriments intake ( vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids ) will definitely help your situation.

I recommend you step in you local food supplements store and check for Natural Factors vitamin B complex or any other brand the person at the store will recommend you if they don't have Natural Factors. Natural Factors Vitamins B complex have an average of 50mg/mcg per vitamin.

I also recommend you take Ester-C 1,000mg or 500mg vitamin C ( it's a really good vitamin C with calcium ). You can google Vitamin C to see all the benefits cause there are really tons of them but i will tell you some benefits. It is a powerful antioxidant, it boost your immune system, enhance your body's own healing mechanisms ( healing wounds faster ) and it also helps produce collagen which is essential to maintain cells together, it helps prevent heart disease by preventing free radical from damaging artery walls; also means a considerable reduction in chances of having a stroke or other cardiovascular diseases. Research are ongoing for high intake of IV vitamin C to fight cancer.

I also recommend you a ''superfood'' supplement to compensate the nutriments you are missing from processed food. Those super foods can be bought in powder or pills under the brand name of Green+ or SuperFoodRX or Rainbow Light Advanced Nutritional Formula.

Consider adding a vitamin D if your exposure to sun is low to help calcium and phosphorus absorption. 500 to 1000ui is a correct dosage.

Other vitamins are not as important as C, Bs and D and i think there is a sufficient amount of them in the food you are eating. Vitamin A is good for the eyes so if you are vegetarian you should consider buying a vitamin A since vegetables and the likes are not a good source of vitamin A and i don't advice a vitamin E supplement.

While vitamins will help you very much for your extreme fatigue and depression you might need a little plus and it is called Rhodiola rosea and can also be bought to your local food supplement store. Rhodiola have the potential to optimizing serotonin and dopamine levels and it also haves stimulant proprieties. I really recommend it to you since as a complement to the vitamins and healthy diet it will have a major impact.

One thing you should also consider is exercising daily to balance your hormones.

Best regards,
M4
Helpful - 0
535822 tn?1443976780
Thank you, I have never been good at breakfast but I am trying now they told be last CBC I had a higher blood sugar than I should have it was 112 and then 115 they said 126 is diabetic so I am pre diabetic, and desperatly trying to eat the right way .. I think you are right it is me I have been allergic to something yet to be determined for 18 months . Actually I have also given up on Doctors and have had more hlep here and doing my own research.I have Soloray and natures way vits ..there are so many I go to my local heath food store 'Sprouts' where they have technicians look them up for you and do print outs . any help would be great ..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have always been interested in trying B vitamins for feeling better.  What brand do you recommend.  I have extreme fatigue and a bit of depression and want to try something other than antidepressant to fight this.  I also have endometriosis.  Any advice would be appreciated.  Thank you.
Helpful - 0
1042487 tn?1275279899
Hello there and welcome to the forum!

It might sounds weird but may i ask you what you eat for breakfast? Some cereals like Vector have a good amount of vitamins like B12 and B6.

What are your side effects?

Also i would like to know what kind of vitamins B you are taking and what brand and dosage. It is always better to buy your vitamins at a food supplement store and look for the best vitamins out there.

The liquid formula will give you a faster absorption and extra vitamins will be flushed more easily in your urine ( expect to see a bright, almost glowing, yellow urine ). But if you were taking correct amount of vitamins B and taking a good brand i don't think i could really help with the side effects. You might be a bit hypersensitive. Usually, sublingual ( liquid ) vitamins B complex are more potent and usually don't offer low doses. I would try a low dose of 50mcg of a good vitamin B12 bought at a food supplement store to see if vitamin B12 is really the problem which i doubt unless you already have a abnormally high concentration of vitamins B in you. If you are unable to find a 50mcg B12 alone just try a vitamins B complex with 50mcg of B12 in it, it is usually the dosage in the vitamins B complex. Another suggestion would be to have a CBC ( complete blood culture ) to see what's going on.

Also i would like to know about your diet and what vitamins you take or tried and how long and what dosage.

Best regards,
M4
Helpful - 0
535822 tn?1443976780
I have a lot of problems taking any Vits they seem to give me side effects , I have thought a liquid form may be better for me, B12 really makes me feel unwell I need to take some but dont want the side effects..any ideas for me ?
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Alternative Therapies Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Many couples are turning to acupuncture to treat infertility. But does it work? We take a closer look.
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Healing home remedies for common ailments
Learn ow this ancient healing Indian medicine can work for you
Before your drop a dime at the pharmacy, find out if these popular cold and flu home remedies are a wonder or a waste