Vitamin B6 Benefits

According to scientists, vitamin B6 benefits your body in multiple ways.

It is involved in no less than 100 different chemical reactions in your body per minute.

It functions mostly as a co-enzyme - which is exactly what it sounds like. Vitamin B6 works with other enzymes to regulate all sorts of processes in your body.

Studies have shown the benefits of vitamin B6 in relieving edema and reducing water retention, improving magnesium deficiency, peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, rheumatism, cardiovascular occlusions and myocardial infarcts, learning and developmental disorders, and autism.

Technically, vitamin B6 is an umbrella term given to three different vitamins, pyridoxine, pridoxal, and pyridoxamine. The three B6 vitamins work together with other enzymes to speed up chemical reactions in cells.

Those processes include making amino acids, creating neurotransmitters like serotonin and metabolizing energy released in creating red blood cells. Vitamin B6 benefits also include helping to balance hormones and strengthen the immune system.

Vitamin B6 Food Sources and Vitamin B6 Bioavailability

It's possible to get vitamin B6 benefits by making sure that you include plenty of seeds and beans, wheat bran and beef in your diet, but most doctors agree that vitamin b6 benefits are often maximized when it is taken as an optimized supplement that is more bioavailable.

The activated form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal-5-phosphate or P-5-P, is the form of vitamin B6 that the body utilizes best. Because a large number of people can't convert vitamin B6 to P-5-P, doctors recommend that at least 20% of the daily intake of vitamin B6 be in the form of a supplement containing P-5-P, the activated form of vitamin B6 in order to derive the maximum vitamin B6 benefits.

Symptoms of Vitamin B6 Deficiency

Vitamin B6 deficiency has been linked to depression, schizophrenia, autism and irritability. Studies have shown a deficiency of vitamin B6 in people diagnosed with epilepsy, acne, arthritis and sebhorheic dermatitis.

Because the body requires vitamin B6 to properly metabolize so many different other enzymes and proteins, a vitamin B6 deficiency can potentially be at the root of many different disorders, including yeast infections, water retention, premenstrual syndrome, an impaired immune system, Parkinson's disease and arthritis.

Specifically, clinical studies have shown the benefits of vitamin B6 in treating:

• autism
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• asthma
• endometriosis
• premenstrual syndrome
• edema
• atherosclerosis
• acne
• attention deficit disorder
• schizophrenia
• clinical depression

In most cases, scientists believe that supplementing the diet with vitamin B6 allows the body to better utilize other supplements and medications, and improves the effectiveness of other treatments for those conditions.

Possible Toxicity of Vitamin B6 Overdose

Because your body uses vitamin B6 to help metabolize and use other enzymes and vitamins, it's important that you match your intake of B6 with equal doses of vitamins B12 and other vitamins in the B complex family. If those guidelines aren't followed, then long term doses of as little as 500 mg daily can result in the toxicity of vitamin B6. To avoid vitamin B6 overdose , nutrition experts suggest that vitamin B6 be taken with equal doses of other B vitamins and magnesium supplements .

Supplementing Your Food with Vitamin B6

Xtend-Life Natural Products offers a whole-health supplement that includes vitamin B6 benefits

in a form that is carefully balanced with other nutrients and supplements. Total Balance for Women is formulated specifically for women over the age of 19, and includes a balance of supplements that are synergistically balanced to improve your overall health and well-being.

Xtend-Life also offers a supplement that is specially developed for anyone dealing with stress and tension.

Neuro-Natural Serenity includes a higher dose of vitamin B6, balanced with a full complement of all the other B vitamins, as well as other nutrients, enzymes, proteins and phytonutrients that have proven beneficial in treating stress related disorders.

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