Vitamin B6 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in:
- Nervous system health
- Heart health
- Decreasing inflammation
- Hormone function
- Immune system function
- Metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and amino acids
- Mood balance
- Blood cell production
Like other water-soluble vitamins, Vitamin B6 is not stored in the body for later use and needs to be consumed daily to maintain adequate amounts. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Vitamin B6 is:
- 1.3mg daily for adults 19-49
- 1.5mg daily for women over 50
- 1.7mg daily for men over 50
There are some medical conditions that have been found to cause a deficiency in Vitamin B6 and include:
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Alcoholism
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- Malabsorption syndromes such as Celiac Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Chrons Disease
- Heart disease
- Breast Cancer
- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Kidney disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Vitamin B6 metabolism has also been found to be affected by certain medications including:
- Isoniazid
- Penicillamine
- Hydralazine
- Levodopa/Carbidopa
- Seizure medications
- Theophylline
Mild deficiencies of Vitamin B6 are the most common and symptoms include:
- Dermatitis
- Glossitis- inflammation of the tongue
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Depression
Severe Vitamin B6 deficiency is rare and include the above symptoms as well as anemia and seizures.
Toxicity of Vitamin B6 has been seen in those taking doses of greater than 250mg daily. Symptoms of Vitamin B6 Toxicity include:
- Neuropathy which can lead to difficulty walking
- Skin rash
- Photosensitivity
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Heartburn
Vitamin B6 Deficiency is rare in developed countries as many foods are available that contain Vitamin B6. Of note, cooking, processing and storing foods can decrease Vitamin B6 levels by 10-50%.
Dietary Sources of Vitamin B6
- Canned chickpeas
- Banana
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Beef
- Potatoes
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Spinach
- Sweet Potato
- Tuna
- Turkey
- Sunflower Seeds
- Butternut squash
- Acorn squash
- Pumpkin
- Raisins
- Onions
- Tofu
- Long grain rice
- Bulgur
- Fortified cereals
- Cottage cheese
With so many options to choose from it is easy to get started!
Wondering what your vitamin levels are? Check out Rootine.
This article is for information purposes only. Always consult your physician prior to starting any new diet, medication or supplement.
References:
Overview of water-soluble vitamins. Pazirandeh et al. Uptodate.com. Accessed 2020
Vitamin B6 Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Accessed 2020. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/
Institute of Functional Medicine Fact Sheet. Micronutrients: Vitamins. Accessed 2020
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