Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)

What is it?

• Pyridoxine is a water-soluble vitamin. The active form is pyridoxal 5'-phos-phate.

How does it work in the body?

• Pyridoxine plays an important role in maintaining the nervous system as it helps with normal brain and nerve function. It also aids in the production of antibodies and red blood cells.

• Pyridoxal phosphate is essential for gluconeogenesis during the transamination and decarboxylation of amino acids and acts as a cofactor to convert homocysteine to cysteine.

What is it used for?

• Vitamin B6 deficiency is not common; however, it could occur in those with alcoholism, and liver or kidney disease. Supplementation is used to ensure normal nerve function, produce hemoglobin and antibodies, and keep blood sugars within normal limits.

• Although research is pending, vita-min B6 can also be used to reduce nausea during pregnancy and reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Dosage:

• The optimal dose is not well studied. RDA is 1.3 mg/day for adults.

Evidence:

• Diabetes: Pyridoxine supplementation has been shown to be effective in lowering blood glucose in those with gestational diabetes.

• Nausea during pregnancy: A review of randomized control trials looks at the different ways to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. Supplementing 30 mg of pyridoxine, was found to be a useful tool in reducing nausea.

• AMD: A randomized control study including more than 5000 women, concluded that supplementing 50 mg of vitamin B6, 1000 µg of vitamin B12, and 2500 µg of folic acid can lower the risk of AMD.

• Pain relieffimprove fine motor skills: When combined with thiamine and cobalamin, pyridoxine has been shown to improve fine motor skills. The triple supplementation of pyridoxine, thiamin, and cobalamin has also been shown to relieve pain in diabetic patients.

• Heart disease: Elevated homocysteine levels have been linked to an elevated risk of CVD. Supplementing folic acid, pyridoxine, and cobalamin may lower homocysteine levels; however, research is not definitive on this.

Safety concerns/side effects/precautions:

• Excessive intake of pyridoxine could impair coordination or sensory function. Other risks include dizziness, nausea, or a numbing feeling to hands/feet.

Interactions with medication:

• Be sure to separate the timing of certain antibiotics (tetracycline) with pyridoxine supplementation, as B6 could limit the efficiency of the antibiotic.

• Do not supplement with phenytoin or Levodopa as B6 could limit the potency of the medications.