Vitamin B-6 - Editor's Choice

Effective in treating over 100 different health conditions, vitamin B6 is one of the most highly lauded vitamins available today. The vitamin can be used to treat a variety of physical and psychological conditions ranging from heart disease to depression and kidney stones. There are few ailments that vitamin B6 cannot treat or at least aid in treating.

What Is Vitamin B6?

A part of the vitamin B complex, vitamin B6 is a water soluble vitamin known as pyridoxal phosphate or PLP in its active form. This vitamin is an element in a variety of metabolic processes including transamination, deamination and decarboxylation. This element is also responsible for the enzyme reaction that converts glycogen to glucose.

Serving such important roles in the body, vitamin B6 is one of the most vital nutrients in the diet. This vitamin can be found in a variety of food sources from meat to vegetables. Fish, beef liver, potatoes, citrus fruits, fortified cereals and poultry are all common sources of the vitamin.

Health Benefits of Pyridoxine

This vitamin is a major factor in treating and preventing a variety of health conditions. In particular, the vitamin prevents the buildup of homocysteine in the body, a compound that damages blood vessel linings and contributes to the buildup of plaque in the circulatory system.

Vitamin B6 deficiency is also responsible for a range of conditions. Individuals who are even marginally deficient in vitamin B6 are more susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome, immune deficiencies, depression and sensitivity to monosodium glutamate.

An adequate amount of the vitamin also helps prevent a number of conditions. Paired with magnesium, pyridoxine can help prevent kidney stones. The vitamin also serves as a cure for premenstrual syndrome and its many symptoms. Vitamin B6 is also effective in treating asthma, headaches, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and a variety of other conditions.

While vitamin B6 occurs naturally in several foods, many individuals still do not get an adequate amount of the vitamin daily. A supplement can help individuals boost their intake of the vitamin and get an appropriate amount of one of the most important vitamins in a healthy diet.