Vitamin B6, another essential
B complex vitamin.
A Hungarian microbiologist and biochemist, Paul Gyorgy discovered Vitamin B6 (Phyridoxine Hydrochloride) in the 1930’s when he was at the Nutrition Laboratory of Cambridge University in England. He did a nutrition study on rats and found a substance which he named Vitamin B6, cured the skin disease, dermatitis acrodynia.
B6 is water soluble. Excess is eliminated through urine. (Sometimes people are surprised when their urine turns bright yellow from taking Vitamin B's, this is normal). Vegetarians can take a B6 with no animal products in it.
B6 can cause nerve toxicity at high levels; discontinue if numbness develops in the body. Long overuse can cause nerve damage.Taking the right amount of all the Vitamin B’s can help balance and avoid deficiencies in the other B vitamins. This vitamin can become hydrochloric acid, if you have stomach ulcers, take with caution. Daily oral doses of 100-300 mg have been taken with no side effects.
The body needs B6 for:
* 60 essential enzymes involved in hundreds of biochemical tasks in the body
* Red blood cells
* Neurotransmitters
* Brain, nervous and immune system functions
* Eating protein
* Pregnant women- women with this deficiency continuing through late pregnancy may cause stillbirth or post delivery infant mortality. Infants born can also suffer from convulsions. You want the unborn child to receive an adequate supply of this nutrient* Aging. It's good to know there are things that we can do to help ourselves age gracefully. * Exposure to radiation * Cardiac failure
Cause of deficiencies:
Pregnancy, lactation, PMS
Taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills can lead to bone disease and other health problems)
Stress
Significant weakening of the immune system (AIDS and cancer patients show low levels of B6)
Studies show people with osteoporosis are low in B6,
B12
and folic acid.
Helps:
1) Adrenals
2) Nerve injuries
3) Carpal tunnel syndrome
4) Production of energy
5) Activates cancer fighting properties
6) Decrease growth of cancerous tumors
7) May help lower homocysteine levels (high levels of homocysteine, HCY, have been linked to an increase in cardiovascular risk. HCY is a toxic amino acid from pasteurized cows milk and red meat. I have been concerned about how they process cows milk. An article in Atherosclerosis Review says HCY causes the blood vessel disease, arterial lesions)
8) Could help with fertility problems 9)
Dr. Richard A. Passwater, Ph.D.
, author of "The New Supernutrition" shows research on B6 that helps prevent arterial plaque and heart disease PMS, headaches, irritability and weight gain (the liver needs B6 and magnesium to eliminate excess estrogen)
10) Anxiety, depression, convulsions and nausea
11) Harvard researchers studies have found B6, along with magnesium, helped prevent the return of idiopathic calcium-oxalate kidney stones
12) Side effects of diabetes
Symptoms of a Vitamin B6 deficiency:
Low blood sugar
Low glucose tolerance causing insulin sensitivity (hypoglycemia)
Heart disorders involving nerves
Increase in urination
Neuritis
Slow learning
Cracks around the eyes and mouth
Cramps and numbness with arms and legs
Hair loss
Temporary paralysis of a limb
Visual disturbances
Water retention during pregnancy
Similar symptoms also seen in
B2
and
B3
deficiencies:
Dermatitis
Arthritis associated with menopause
Irritability, nervousness
Muscular weakness
Shoulder-hand, wrist-hand syndromes, tingling hands
Depression
Foods that are a good source of Vitamin B6:
Rice bran, Meats, whole grains, brown rice, oats, whole wheat, avocados, bananas, eggs, peanuts, soybeans, walnuts, fish
As outlined above, Vitamin B6 is another important member of the B-complex family. Follow the recommendations to insure you get enough of this important nutrient.
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