Vitamin B
6 (
pyridoxine) is a water-soluble vitamin necessary for many different chemical reactions in the body. It is claimed to be beneficial for a variety of different uses (although some uses are more credible than others).
The main role of vitamin B
6 in the body is to work as a coenzyme in numerous different chemical reactions.
This means that vitamin B
6 helps enzymes to work properly. It is important for a wide variety of reactions, including the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.
Vitamin B6 is also important for the formation of hemoglobin, an important part of red blood cells. This is why low vitamin B6 can lead to anemia.
Low vitamin B
6 can increase levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that can cause problems if it builds up to high levels. In particular, it is thought that high homocysteine may contribute to problems such as
cardiovascular disease or blood clots. Vitamin B
6 decreases homocysteine levels after meals (but does not really affect fasting homocysteine levels). Low levels of vitamin B
6 may also increase levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory molecule that may be related to
heart disease and several other medical conditions.
The vitamin may also have antioxidant properties. In addition, it may decrease
kidney stone formation by decreasing the amount of oxalate (a component of some
types of kidney stones) excreted in the urine. It is also thought that vitamin B
6 may increase levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is why some people think it may be useful for treating
depression or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (
ADHD).
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