What is Vitamin B6 Requirement?

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is involved in many essential processes, including metabolism of fat and protein, healthy immune and nervous system function, production of hemoglobin, neurotransmitters, and maintenance of normal homocysteine levels. Symptoms of vitamin B6 imbalance include nerve inflammation, irritability, depression, lack of mental clarity, dermatitis, cracked, sore lips, inflamed tongue and mouth.

RDA for adults is 1.3 mg. It increases to 1.7mg for males and 1.5 mg for females above 50 years old. Factors increasing ones need for vitamin B6 include depression, high homocysteine levels, cardiovascular disease, ADHD, asthma, cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, morning sickness, premenstrual syndrome, and certain medications, such as oral contracptives and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

How It Affects Your Body

Vitamin B6 imbalance may cause several side effects including nerve inflammation, irritability, depression, lack of mental clarity, dermatitis, cracked, sore lips, inflamed tongue, and mouth.

Symptoms

Weakened renal function

Impaired renal functions increase the excretion of plasma vitamin B6. Increased dietary and supplementary intake is required to maintain plasma vitamin B6 levels.

Autoimmune and malabsorptive diseases

Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and malabsorptive autoimmune disorders like celiac disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, etc increases inflammation which depletes plasma vitamin B6 levels.

Dependant on alcohol

Acetaldehyde from alcohol competes with cellular vitamin B6 & increases its breakdown. This causes vitamin B6 to be depleted at a high rate.