Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Benefits and more

What is vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6, also known as Pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin; that is, they are those that dissolve in water. You will find it easier in water than in fat, so any excess of this vitamin in the body will be expelled through urine.

It is quite resistant to oxygen from the air and heat, which is why it is quite resistant when cooking food that contains this vitamin.

What are the functions of vitamin B6?

Pyridoxine is very essential for the correct functioning of enzymes, since they regulate chemical processes in organisms that influence brain development throughout pregnancy and childhood, which is why it is quite important in the gestation period.

It is also related to the good state of the immune and nervous system, because by helping the body’s chemical processes, the energy that is obtained, we will be able to use macronutrients correctly, such as carbohydrates for the nervous system.

It benefits us to reduce the risk of heart disease along with vitamins B12 and B9, it also helps against cancer either to prevent or reduce it. It benefits cognitive function which can have better memory and some other functions such as:

• Antibody production.
• Produce hemoglobin.
• Protein breakdown.
• Glycogen formation.
• Production of red blood cells, etc.

What problem occurs due to a lack of vitamin B6?

The chances of having a low intake of vitamin B6 mainly, although it is not very common that this lack of deficiency exists, it can generate a certain number of problems in the organism which are the following:

• Anemia problems.
• Scaly lips.
• Confusion, depression, irritability.
• Weakening of the immune system.
• Seizures or hearing sensitivity in babies.

In what foods is vitamin B6 found?

Vitamin B6 can be found in both the animal kingdom and the plant kingdom and it will help us produce energy and antibodies. A strong point of this vitamin is that it is resistant to heat, so when cooking foods that contain it, They will not suffer much loss of Pyridoxine, the sources where this vitamin is found are:

• Meats and derivatives: You can find parts such as liver, pork or beef, serrano ham
• Fish: We are going to focus on salmon, sardines, tuna, sole, cod, trout and more.
• Seafood: Like barnacle, octopus, lobster.
• Vegetables.
• Whole grains.
• Vegetables.
• Legumes: beans, broad beans, etc.
• Flour.
• Nuts: pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts and peanuts, almonds
• Avocado, Grapes, dried fig raisin and flat
• Cinnamon, oregano, pepper

Is excessive consumption of Vitamin B6 negative for the body?

It is very rare to have any type of excess of vitamin b6, unless the excess is through supplementation exceeding the recommended daily dose for a full year; It can bring consequences to the nervous system or to the level of the skin and stomach pain and simply these symptoms would disappear by lowering the dose.

Recommended daily intake of vitamin b6:

• Babies up to 12 months: there is no exact recommended amount
• children:
  • 1 to 3 years = 30 mg/day
  • 4 to 8 years = 40 mg/day
  • 9 to 13 years = 60 mg/day
• Adolescents and adults:
  • 14 to 18 years = 80 mg/day
  • Over 19 years 100 mg/day
• Although the recommended amounts for adults can be from = 1.3 to 2 mg / day
• Women during lactation need = 2mg/day

If you are severely deficient in vitamin B6, it is recommended that you visit your GP who may prescribe vitamin supplements that contain high concentrations of these and other vitamins. At XTRALIFE we have a range of products that contain varieties of vitamins, these will help you recover and reach optimal levels in the body again.