Introduction Vitamins are the organic molecules that function in a wide variety of roles within the body. The most significant function of vitamins is to serve as cofactors (co-enzymes) for enzymatic reactions. The distinguishing feature of vitamins is that they cannot be synthesized within the mammalian cells, and hence it should be taken through food supplements. The family of Vitamin B, called Vitamin B complex, plays important role in converting food into energy and helping the body metabolize fats and proteins.
Vitamin B6 is a collective name for inter-convertible chemically similar compounds –
Pyridoxine
Pyridoxal
Pyridoxamine.
Vitamin B6 was named pyridoxine to indicate its structural homology to pyridine. And its active form, Pyridoxal 5’-phospate (PLP) serves as cofactor in many metabolic enzymatic reactions (amino acid, glucose and lipid metabolism). Vitamin B6 requires riboflavin, zinc and magnesium for its normal function in the body.
History
Some of
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Normal levels of vitamin B6 is about 2mg/100g proteins consumed per day. The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for vitamin B6 from dietary sources and supplements combined is 100 mg per day. Symptoms of vitamin B6 toxicity include: muscle incoordination, numbness of the hands and feet, impaired reflexes, abnormal plasma amino acid levels
Large doses of vitamin B6 (over 2,000 mg) can cause nerve damage.
Therapeutic Uses
Vitamin B6 plays clinically significant roles such as:
Reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease in smokers
Treatment of nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy
Balance hormonal changes and improve immune system
Regression of autism with a mega dose (250-500 mg/day)
Also showed benefits in conditions of asthma, edema and water retention, magnesium deficiency, tendonitis, peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatism, cardiovascular diseases, myocardial infarcts, learning and developmental disorders, and autism.