Parkinson's disease, or PD, is a chronic disorder that affects the central nervous system and is more commonly diagnosed in older adults, especially after age 50. Vitamin B-6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin belonging to B vitamins. Pyridoxine is found in foods and is also available as an over-the-counter supplement. If you suffer from this condition and consider taking B-6 supplements, you should first talk to your doctor.
About B6
Vitamin B-6 plays an important role in the metabolism of red blood cells and helps maintain healthy nervous system and immune system. A deficiency of this vitamin may result in symptoms such as depression, confusion and inflammatory skin conditions.
Vitamin B-6 is essential for the production of serotonin and dopamine, two key neurotransmitters of the brain, according to National Institutes of Health. Ongoing research is investigating the connection between vitamin B-6 status and neurological conditions such as Parkinson, seizures or depression, especially in older people who tend to be deficient in this vitamin.
PD Prevention
Low dietary intake of vitamin B-6 is associated with increased risk of Parkinson's disease, according to a study published in March 2010 issue of "The British Journal of Nutrition." This study involved over 600 participants, including 249 individuals who had been diagnosed with PD. The researchers evaluated the link between dietary intake of several vitamins and the development of Parkinson's disease. B-6 deficiency was found to be correlated with an increased chance to develop Parkinson's disease.
PD Treatment
Vitamin B-6 is used by some alternative health care professionals to treat Parkinson's disease; however, this vitamin may interfere with the absorption of some conventional anti-Parkinson drugs, indicates University of Maryland Medical Center. Thus, supplementation with B-6 should be always medically supervised.
B6 Sources and Recommended Dietary Daily Allowance
Make sure you get adequate levels of vitamin B-6, either from diet or supplements.
To improve overall health, the recommended dietary daily allowance is 1.3 mg of vitamin B-6 for adults between 19 and 50 years old, and up to 1.7 mg for individuals who are 50 years or older, according to National Institutes of Health.
To improve symptoms of Parkinson's disease a health care professional may recommend up to 50 mg daily vitamin B-6, based on the severity of your symptoms and whether or not your blood tests reveal a deficiency of this vitamin in your body.
Dietary sources of vitamin B-6 include potato, banana, chicken, beef, spinach, tomato, avocado, salmon, tuna, sunflower seeds, walnuts, whole wheat and fortifies cereals. B-6 supplements can be found alone or in multivitamin formulas.
Considerations
Consult a qualified health care provider to find out optimal dosage of vitamin B-6 supplements that may help improve your symptoms. Vitamin B-6 works in tandem with other vitamins and minerals, thus a multivitamin would be more likely recommended. Keep in mind that vitamin B-6 does not replace and should not be used to replace any conventional drugs you are currently taking for Parkinson's disease. Vitamin B-6 is not approved by US Food and Drug Administration to treat PD.
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