Contents
Uses
- Vitamin B6 is used for preventing and treating low levels of pyridoxine (pyridoxine deficiency) and the “tired blood” (anemia) that may result. It is also used for heart disease; high cholesterol; reducing blood levels of homocysteine, a chemical that might be linked to heart disease; and helping clogged arteries stay open after a balloon procedure to unblock them (angioplasty).
- Women use Vitamin B6 for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and other menstruation problems, “morning sickness” (nausea and vomiting) in early pregnancy, stopping milk flow after childbirth, depression related to pregnancy or using birth control pills, and symptoms of menopause.
Benefits
- Co-Enzymatic Activities: Vitamin B6 is functional in working with a number of enzymatic systems in the human body to make these enzymes work in the desired manner. This close association between Vitamin B6 and enzymes helps to add significance to proper functioning of nervous system, in building up immunity, and in relieving problems like arthritis.
- Immune System: Vitamin B6 plays an important role in refurbishing the immune system of the human body to the required functional level. This helps the human body to withstand a number of infections, which can easily victimize the body in the absence of this important vitamin.
- Metabolism: Vitamin B6 is admired for its capability of metabolizing a number of nutrients to extract energy. Hence, one may look upon this vitamin for the metabolism of fats, vitamins, carbohydrates and other important components like amino acids.
- Premenstrual Syndrome: Vitamin B6 has a significant role to play in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome occurring in women. Pyridoxine is decreased in supply during this period, thus leading to moodiness, loss of sex drive and other problems. In this situation, intake of a diet rich in Vitamin B6 is the most effective solution.
- Emotional Disorders: Vitamin B6 is responsible for treating a number of emotional disorders. The deficiency of this vitamin may affect the formation of hormones and unbalances the level of these hormones, which ultimately leads to emotional disturbances. Thus, the intake of Vitamin B6 is necessary to control these hormones and treat emotional disorders.
- Hormone Control: Vitamin B6 is helpful in maintaining the level of hormones in the human body, which helps to control a number of activities and metabolic occurrences in the human body.
- Skin Conditions: One of the most significant benefits of Vitamin B6 is that it helps in maintaining the good condition of human skin. It helps in treating a number of skin problems, including eczema, dandruff, acne,hair loss, and dry skin. More than that, it helps in treating serious skin diseases like melanoma and psoriasis.
- Cardiac Diseases and Kidney Disorders: Vitamin B6 helps in controlling the level of fat that is deposited in and around the human heart and thus, protects against a number of cardiac diseases. Apart from this, Vitamin B6 also helps to restrict stone formation in the kidneys, hence keeping this critical organ of the human body in good shape.
Cautions
- Vitamin b6 is LIKELY SAFE for most people when used appropriately.
- Vitamin b6 is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts greater than the recommended dietary allowance. In some people, pyridoxine might cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, headache, tingling, sleepiness, and other side effects.
- Long-term use of high doses is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It might cause certain brain and nerve problems.
- Special Precautions & Warnings: Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Vitamin b6 is LIKELY SAFE for pregnant women when taken under the supervision of their healthcare provider. It is sometimes used in pregnancy to control morning sickness. High doses areUNSAFE. High doses can cause newborns to have seizures.
- Vitamin b6 is LIKELY SAFE for breast-feeding women when used in amounts not larger than 2 mg per day (the recommended dietary allowance). Avoid using higher amounts. Not enough is known about the safety of pyridoxine at higher doses in breast-feeding women.
Interactions
- Amiodarone (Cordarone) interacts with PYRIDOXINE (VITAMIN B6)
Amiodarone (Cordarone) might increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Taking vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) along with amiodarone (Cordarone) might increase the chances of sunburn, blistering, or rashes on areas of skin exposed to sunlight. Be sure to wear sunblock and protective clothing when spending time in the sun. - Phenobarbital (Luminal) interacts with PYRIDOXINE (VITAMIN B6)
The body breaks down phenobarbital (Luminal) to get rid of it. Pyridoxine might increase how quickly the body breaks down phenobarbital (Luminal). This could decrease the effectiveness of phenobarbital (Luminal). - Phenytoin (Dilantin) interacts with PYRIDOXINE (VITAMIN B6)
The body breaks down phenytoin (Dilantin) to get rid of it. Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) might increase how quickly the body breaks down phenytoin. Taking pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and taking phenytoin (Dilantin) might decrease the effectiveness of phenytoin (Dilantin) and increase the possibility of seizures. Do not take - Levodopa interacts with PYRIDOXINE (VITAMIN B6)The body breaks down levodopa to get rid of it. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) can increase how quickly the body breaks down and gets rid of levodopa. But this is only a problem if you are taking levodopa alone. Most people take levodopa along with carbidopa (Sinemet). Carbidopa prevents this interaction from occurring. If you are taking levodopa without carbidopa do not take vitamin B6.
Other names
Adermine Chlorhydrate, Adermine Hydrochloride, B Complex Vitamin, B6, Chlorhydrate de pyridoxine, Complexe de Vitamines B, Phosphate de Pyridoxal, Piridoxina, Pyridoxal, Pyridoxal Phosphate, Pyridoxal 5 Phosphate, Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate, Pyridoxamine, Pyridoxine HCl, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine-5-Phosphate, P5P, P-5-P
References
Source: WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-934-pyridoxine%20vitamin%20b6.aspx?activeingredientid=934&
OrganicFacts, https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vitamins/health-benefits-of-vitamin-b6-or-pyridoxamine.html
Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B6#Medical_uses