Holisticonline.com - Vitamin B Knowledgebase

Vitamin/ Mineral Name: Vitamin B6: Pyridoxine

RDA for Men: 2. Mg

RDA for Women: 1.6 mg

RDA for Pregnant Women: 2.2 mg.

RDA for Nursing Women: 2..1 mg.

Daily Value (DV): 2. Mg

Benefit: Protein metabolism Needed for normal growth Pyridoxine is essential for the metabolism of every amino acid protein. It helps to overcome the nausea and toxemia of pregnancy, and some adverse effects of birth control pills. It reportedly has shown beneficial effects in epileptic states, ulcers, heart conditions, anemia, rheumatism, and menstrual and menopausal disorders. It may also help diabetes. Some doctors believe that there is widespread deficiency disease associated with this vitamin resulting in muscle and nerve pains, and unnecessary swellings, and may be linked to rheumatism. In infants pyridoxine deficiency can be manifested by extreme convulsions. In adults, anemia may be the first sign. It is followed by difficulties with tendons and ligaments, especially in the hands, and swellings. New research from UK indicate that women who take birth control pills may get depression which can be reduced by taking Pyridoxine. Lancet, the British medical journal now recommends that women on pills consider such vitamin therapy. Pyridoxine also has been reported to reduce the level of free cholesterol circulating in the blood stream.

Food Sources: Bananas are good source of pyridoxine, as well as raw meat. Other sources include: Fish, Soybeans, Avocados, Lima Beans, Chicken, Cauliflower, Green Peppers, Potatoes, Spinach, and Raisins. Heat of cooking is very destructive to this vitamin.

Effect of Overdose: This Vitamin is water soluble. The body does not store it to any great extent. Excess amounts are readily removed through urine. Thus for healthy people, this is pretty safe in any reasonable quantity. No medical harm is reported from any overdose.

Description: This vitamin is not very stable. The heat of cooking, storage, exposure to air or light, soaking or prolonged cooking in water etc. destroy them. Alkaline solutions such as baking soda also has a harmful effect on this vitamin.