12 Impressive Benefits of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine has innumerable benefits, these benefits includes supporting a healthier skin, detoxifying the liver, enhancing the health of blood vessels, improving cognitive function, relieving mood swings, curing anemia, supporting eye health, relieving the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, preventing diabetes, relieving carpal tunnel syndrome, treating pregnancy related nausea, and treating hair loss.

What is Vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6 is also referred to as pyridoxine. It is one of the vitamins that belongs to the B-complex family and plays a crucial role in enhancing a wide range of functions.

Experts recommend a daily dose of 1.3 mg of vitamin B6 for an average adult under 50. However, people who are above the age of 50 should consume 1.7 mg every day.

Sources of Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is found in green beans, cereals, whole grains, wheat germ and walnuts. You can also benefit from it by including meat, eggs, fish and liver into your diet.

Other good sources include cabbage, cauliflower, bananas, carrots, spinach and soya beans.

Here are some good sources of pyridoxine.

Grass-Fed Beef 3 ounces beef tenderloin: 0.5 milligrams	Pistachio Nuts (1/4 cup): 0.5 milligrams
Turkey Breast (3 ounces):  0.7 milligrams	Pinto Beans (1 cup cooked): 0.4 milligrams
Tuna (1 3-ounce can): 0.4 milligrams	Sesame Seeds (1/4 cup): .25 milligrams
Chicken Breast (1/2 one breast): 0.3 milligrams	Sunflower Seeds (1/4 cup) 0.25 milligrams
Avocado (1 raw) 0.4 milligrams	Amaranth Grain (1 cup cooked): 0.2 milligrams
Chickpeas (1 cup cooked): 0.2 milligrams	Blackstrap Molasses (2 tablespoons): 0.26 milligrams

12 Impressive Health Benefits of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B6 not only improves metabolism, it also supports vision and has many positive effects on skin health. Moreover, it also detoxifies the liver and helps the kidneys to function properly.

1. Guarantees a Healthier Skin

One of the most remarkable benefits of vitamin B6 is that it helps to maintain flawless skin. If you want to prevent premature aging signs, then vitamin B6 is one of the best natural ways to slow down the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

It is also helpful in relieving many skin conditions including dry skin, eczema and acne. It also treats a few serious skin disorders such as melanoma and psoriasis.

2. Detoxifies the Liver

Another great benefit of vitamin B6 is that it plays a crucial role in removing unwanted chemicals out of the body. This is why it is recommended to patients who suffer from liver diseases to treat chronic liver dysfunction.

3. Enhances the Health of Blood Vessels

It regulates the levels of homocysteine in the blood. This is a type of amino acid acquired from consuming protein from sources such as meat. Since high levels of this compound can lead to inflammation and the onset of many heart diseases; it is important that you add vitamin B6 to your diet to maintain good levels of homocysteine.

If someone suffers from a vitamin B6 deficiency, then he is likely to have an excess of homocysteine, which can lead to a heart attack in worse cases.

It also maintains good cholesterol and blood pressure levels to prevent many types of heart disorders.

4. Improves Cognitive Function

One of the best things about vitamin B6 is that it is a natural way to boost your cognitive function. Its deficiency is linked with many brain disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. There is enough research to suggest that vitamin B6 is crucial for an efficient nervous system.

It also has a positive impact in the production of ‘feel good hormones’ such as serotonin and norepinephrine. This is why there are many reasons to believe that it successfully treats quite a few behavior disorders including ADHD in children.

5. Relieves Mood Swings

If you are looking for a natural way to lift your spirits; then add a few sources of vitamin B6 into your diet. Clinical studies reveal that it increases serotonin levels in the brain and also has a significant impact on the production of other ‘happy hormones’ to relieve depression.

Patients who suffer from a behavior disorder, lack of energy or have trouble in retaining concentration can greatly benefit from it.

6. Cures Anemia

As vitamin B6 is required to create hemoglobin in the blood, it is a great remedy to treat anemia. If your body starts to produce inadequate amounts of red blood cells, you will develop symptoms associated with anemia. Including it to your diet can treat anemia and relieve symptoms including fatigue and unexplainable body aches.

7. Good for the Eyes

There are many cases in which it has successfully treated many eye disorders that happen because of a bad diet. Vitamin B6 successfully treats age-related macular degeneration and loss of vision due to nutrient deficiency.

8. Relieves the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

It’s deficiency is associated with many symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and can lead to severe pain. Research reveals that patients suffering rheumatoid arthritis need to include as many sources of vitamin B6 as possible to relieve joint pain and muscle pain.

9. Prevent Diabetes

Clinical trials and research reveals that there is a clear connection between diabetes prevention and the consumption of vitamin B6. Diabetics usually suffer from a vitamin B6 deficiency that may lead to other serious complications.

This is why doctors recommend a regular dosage of vitamin B6 to relieve painful conditions that result due to diabetes.

10. Relieves Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This is a painful syndrome that can results in the weakness and numbness of fingers. This occurs if you are performing repetitive motions using your hands, for a prolonged period of time. Moreover, many pregnant women also develop this syndrome.

Studies indicate that patients suffering from this uncomfortable syndrome have greatly benefitted from vitamin B6 supplementation.

11. Treats Pregnancy Related Nausea

There is plenty of research evidence to believe that vitamin B6 takes care of nausea in pregnant women. Doctors recommend expectant mothers to add rich sources of vitamin B6 into their diet to relieve an upset stomach and morning sickness.

12. Helps in Hair Loss

One of the most interesting benefits of vitamin B6 is that it is tremendously beneficial in treating severe cases of hair loss and related complications. If you are experiencing hair-fall along with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, then a regular dose of vitamin B6 may be just what you need to boost your hair growth.

Conclusion

You can get Vitamin B6 from both natural sources and supplementation. It is safe to consume during pregnancy. However, higher dosages can also harm your unborn baby.

Vitamin B6 offers a multitude of benefits to improve our overall health. However, it is important that you ask your doctor to recommend you a supplement with the correct dosage. This is because a high dosage can lead to neurological damage. In rare cases, it can also trigger an allergic reaction.