Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): The Most Active One
Vitamin B6 was discovered in 1930 and is a water-soluble vitamin. It comes in three, slightly different forms: pyridoxine, pyridoxamine and pyridoxal which all have the same effect on the body.
Vegetables like peas, spinach and carrots, whole grain products, nuts, pototoes, fish, meat and milk products are major sources of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 must be obtained from these foods or from supplements, as the human body can not produce it.
Vitamin B6 can be toxic if the daily doses becomes too high (above 2 grams per day) and can result in nerve damage, so any use of this vitamin should be taken under supervision of a physician or in standard safe B-complex formulas.
Vitamin B6 supports more vital bodily functions than any other vitamin. About one third of all adults suffer from Vitamin B6 deficiency, more women than men.
Since vitamin B6 generally serves as a coenzyme for many reactions of other enzymes that support many functions, there are a lot of health areas where it plays an important role.
The metabolically active form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal phosphate, plays an important role in many aspects of metabolism of foods into energy, neurotransmitters in your brain and gene expression. Pyridoxal phosphate is required to form neurotransmitters, hormones, proteins and red blood cells, just to mention a few.
According to a prospective study from the Netherlands, the intake of vitamin B6 could cut the risk of Parkinson’s disease by half. High doses of vitamin B6, together with the use of magnesium, is claimed to alleviate the symptoms of autism. This vitamin has also been shown to reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks.
Other studies and research show positive results using vitamin B6 to treat PMS, carpal tunnel syndrome, pregnancy morning sickness, epilepsy, the immune system, maintainance of blood glucose, depression and a lot more. Lots of research is still in progress.
All in all, vitamin B6 is effective against more than 100 health conditions (and counting).
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