What is Vitamin B6 | Vitamin B6

What is Vitamin B6 | Vitamin B6 | What are the Sources of Vitamin B6 | What are the Benefits of Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin and is part of the vitamin B complex group. Pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) is the active form and is a cofactor in many reactions of amino acid metabolism, including transamination, deamination, and decarboxylation. PLP also is necessary for the enzymatic reaction governing the release of glucose from glycogen.

There are actually three substances that occur naturally in food that have the properties of vitamin B6: pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, and pyridoxal. Although pyridoxine, the first one of these compounds to be discovered, is often used as a synonym for vitamin B6, the three compounds all have the same effect on the body.

What is the Main Function of Vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6 helps the immune system produce antibodies. Antibodies are needed to fight many diseases. Vitamin B6 helps maintain normal nerve function and form red blood cells. The body uses it to help break down proteins. The more protein you eat, the more vitamin B6 you need.

What are the Sources of Vitamin B6?

Rich sources of Vitamin B6 is found in beans, nuts, legumes, eggs, meats, fish, whole grains, and fortified breads and cereals, leafy vegetables etc are germs of various grains and seeds.

Animal sources include liver, egg yolk, meat, kidney, yeast etc. traces are present in all common articles of the food. It has also been produced synthetically.

What are the Benefits of Vitamin B6?

B6 is effective against more than 100 health conditions. It’s used against maladies as serious as heart disease and everyday aggravations such as premenstrual syndrome and sensitivity to MSG.

* It can even help prevent the formation of kidney stones!

* Pyridoxine helps in the proper functioning of the cells of the nervous and muscular system.

* Pyridoxine is also known as a “woman’s vitamin” because it helps relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) such as pre-menstrual fluid retention, severe period pains, emotional PMS symptoms, premenstrual acne, and nausea/vomiting in early pregnancy. It also helps balance hormonal changes in women.

* It aids in the production of DNA and RNA, the body’s genetic material.

* B6 also helps in the movement of sulfur-containing molecules around the body, as that is very important for hormonal balance and elimination of toxic substances through the liver.

* It is essential for the proper absorption of vitamin B12; as well as for the production of red blood cells (haemoglobin). Vitamin B6 also helps increase the amount of oxygen carried by haemoglobin.

* B6 is also an “anti-stress” vitamin because it improves the activity of the immune system, and develops the body’s ability to resist stressful situations.

* Pyridoxine is considered beneficial for children with difficulty in learning, as well as assisting in the
prevention of dandruff, eczema
and psoriasis.

* It helps maintain sodium and potassium balance in the body. Supposed to provide immunity against cancer and resist the formation of the toxic chemical homocysteine, which increases the risk of cardio-vascular diseases.

* Mood swings, irritability, depression as well as loss of sexual drive may be at times linked to B6 deficiency.

* It helps maintain the health of the lymphoid system (thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes) that produces white blood cells in the body. A vitamin B6 deficiency can decrease a person’s antibody production and suppress immune response altogether.

* Vitamin B6 is also very important for the conversion of tryptophan (an amino acid) to niacin (vitamin B3).

* Hemoglobin within red blood cells carries oxygen to tissues. Your body needs vitamin B6 to make hemoglobin. A vitamin B6 deficiency can result in a form of anemia that is similar to iron deficiency anemia.

* Vitamin B6 also helps maintain the blood glucose (sugar) within a normal range. When caloric intake is less, the body uses vitamin B6 to help convert stored carbohydrate or other nutrients to glucose to maintain normal blood sugar levels.