This document discusses vitamin B6, including its functions, food sources, recommendations, deficiency, and current research. It begins by introducing vitamin B6 and its role in nervous system function, red blood cell production, and protein metabolism. It then lists foods containing vitamin B6 and its functions in making antibodies, maintaining nerve function, producing hemoglobin, breaking down proteins, and regulating blood sugar. The document establishes recommended daily allowances for vitamin B6 based on age and gender. It further discusses deficiency symptoms and conditions that can cause inadequate vitamin B6 status. Current research covers average intakes, deficiency associations, risk groups like those with kidney diseases, and effects of alcohol dependence.

1.  GROUP V MEMBERS
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Vitamin B6

2. VITAMIN B6
INTRODUCTION
Vitamin B6 also called pyridoxine is a watersoluble vitamin that is naturally present in
many foods, added to others, and available
as a dietary supplement.
Your body needs it for regular nervous
system function, production of normal red
blood cells and protein metabolism

3. FOOD SOURCES
Vitamin B6 is found in:
Avocado
Banana
Legumes (dried beans)
Meat
Nuts
Poultry
Whole grains
Fortified breads and cereals may also contain
vitamin B6. Fortified means that a vitamin or
mineral has been added to the food.

4. FUNCTIONS
Vitamin B6 helps the body to:
Make antibodies. Antibodies are needed to
fight many diseases.
Maintain normal nerve function
Make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries
oxygen in the red blood cells to the tissues. A
vitamin B6 deficiency can cause a form of
anemia.
Break down proteins. The more protein you
eat, the more vitamin B6 you need.
Keep blood sugar (glucose) in normal ranges.

5. RECOMMENDATIONS
The Recommended Dietary Allowance
(RDA) for vitamins reflects how much of
each vitamin people should receive on a
daily basis. The RDA for vitamins may be
used to help create goals for each person.
How much of each vitamin is needed
depends on a person's age and gender.
Other factors, such as pregnancy and
illnesses, are also important. Ask your
health care provider which amount is best
for you.

6. RECOMMENDATIONS
Table 1: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Vitamin B6
Age
Male
Birth to 6 0.1 mg*
Female
Pregnancy
Lactation
0.1 mg*
months
7–12
0.3 mg*
0.3 mg*
1–3 years
0.5 mg
0.5 mg
4–8 years
0.6 mg
0.6 mg
9–13 years 1.0 mg
1.0 mg
14–18
1.3 mg
1.2 mg
1.9 mg
2.0 mg
1.3 mg
1.3 mg
1.9 mg
2.0 mg
1.7 mg
1.5 mg
months
years
19–50
years
51+ years

7. DEFICIENCY AND RELATED
DISORDERS
Large doses of vitamin B6 can cause:
Difficulty coordinating movement
Numbness (lack of sensation)
Sensory changes
Deficiency of this vitamin can cause:
Confusion
Depression
Irritability
Mouth and tongue sores

8. CURRENT RESEARCHES
VITAMIN B6 INTAKES AND STATUS
According to an analysis of data from the
2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES);The
average vitamin B6 intake is about 1.5
mg/day in women and 2 mg/day in men

9. CURRENT RESEARCHES
VITAMIN B6 DEFICIENCY
Isolated vitamin B6 deficiency is uncommon;
inadequate vitamin B6 status is usually
associated with low concentrations of other
B-complex vitamins, such as vitamin B12
and folic acid. Vitamin B6 deficiency causes
biochemical changes that become more
obvious as the deficiency progresses.

10. CURRENT RESEARCHES
Vitamin B6 deficiency is associated with
microcytic anemia, electroencephalographic
abnormalities, dermatitis with cheilosis
(scaling on the lips and cracks at the
corners of the mouth) and glossitis (swollen
tongue), depression and confusion, and
weakened immune function.

11. CURRENT RESEARCHES
In infants, vitamin B6 deficiency causes
irritability, abnormally acute hearing, and
convulsive seizures.
End-stage renal diseases, chronic renal
insufficiency, and other kidney diseases can
cause vitamin B6 deficiency.

12. CURRENT RESEARCHES
In addition, vitamin B6 deficiency can result
from malabsorption syndromes, such as
celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and
ulcerative colitis. Certain genetic diseases,
such as homocystinuria, can also cause
vitamin B6 deficiency. Some medications,
such as antiepileptic drugs, can lead to
deficiency over time.

13. CURRENT RESEARCHES
GROUPS AT RISK OF VITAMIN B6 INADEQUACY
The following groups are among those most likely to have inadequate
intakes of vitamin B6.
INDIVIDUALS WITH IMPAIRED RENAL FUNCTION
People with poor renal function, including those with end-stage renal
disease and chronic renal insufficiency, often have low vitamin B6
concentrations.
Plasma PLP concentrations are also low in patients receiving
maintenance kidney dialysis or intermittent peritoneal dialysis, as well
as those who have undergone a kidney transplant, perhaps due to
increased metabolic clearance of PLP. Patients with kidney disease
often show clinical symptoms similar to those of people with vitamin B6
deficiency.
O

14. CURRENT RESEARCHES
INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS
People with rheumatoid arthritis often have low
vitamin B6 concentrations, and vitamin B6
concentrations tend to decrease with increased
disease severity. These low vitamin B6 levels are due
to the inflammation caused by the disease and, in
turn, increase the inflammation associated with the
disease. Although vitamin B6 supplements can
normalize vitamin B6 concentrations in patients with
rheumatoid arthritis, they do not suppress the
production of inflammatory cytokines or decrease
levels of inflammatory markers.

15. CURRENT RESEARCHES
PEOPLE WITH ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
Plasma PLP concentrations tend to be very
low in people with alcohol dependence.
Alcohol produces acetaldehyde, which
decreases net PLP formation by cells and
competes with PLP in protein binding. As a
result, the PLP in cells might be more
susceptible to hydrolysis by membranebound phosphatase. People with alcohol
dependence might benefit from pyridoxine
supplementation.

16. REFERENCES
1.
Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary
Reference Intakes: Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6,
Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline .
Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1998.
2.
Mackey A, Davis S, Gregory J. Vitamin B6. In: Shils M, Shike
M, Ross A, Caballero B, Cousins R, eds. Modern Nutrition in
Health and Disease. 10th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins; 2005.
3.
McCormick D. Vitamin B6. In: Bowman B, Russell R, eds.
Present Knowledge in Nutrition. 9th ed. Washington, DC:
International Life Sciences Institute; 2006.

17. To be
continued
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