Your Guide To The Basics Of The B6 Vitamin

Medical experts know it as pyridoxine but to us, it's simply the B6 - also referred to as the most versatile of the B vitamins. Your body only requires a relatively small amount of this vitamin, odd considering that it can do so much.

Basically the B6 vitamin works closely with all the other B vitamins (especially niacin, folic acid, and Cobalamin) as well as contributes to numerous functions in the body. For example, amino acids are converted by the B6 vitamin into protein. Stored sugar in the body is also converted by B6 to energy. Simply put, the B6 vitamin is essential for converting the proteins that the body needs and also for converting the carbohydrates into a form that the body can use for extra energy.

Your body requires a number of different proteins and it is the B6 vitamin that ensures that the correct forms are available. For example, the B6 vitamin will create haemoglobin for carrying oxygen in the blood cells, hormones for regulating blood pressure, neurotransmitters and various enzymes. But despite its many functions, the recommended daily allowance for the B6 vitamin is only around 2.0 mg. But this seemingly insignificant amount is used extremely efficiently within the body to produce over sixty different enzymes.

The best sources of the B6 vitamin are high-protein foods such as eggs, fish, poultry and meat. An additional amount of the B6 vitamin may be beneficial for the heart and immune system. Those who are diabetic or have asthma problems are also encouraged to take B6 supplements to get the basic amounts needed to fuel their bodies. Others who may need to check their B6 intake to see if they are getting enough include women who are breastfeeding, and vegetarians or children who are not eating animal products.

One important thing you need to remember though, unlike the B5 vitamin, large doses of the B6 can be toxic. So make sure you're getting the sufficient amounts but like everything else in life, don't overdo it.