Vitamin B6, also referred to as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin that is consumed through certain types of food and is essential in several bodily processes. Vitamin B6 is not directly related to weight gain, but it does play an indirect role in gaining weight. This can occur in people with vitamin B6 deficiencies. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin B6 deficiency is most common in the elderly, alcoholics, asthmatic children and those who eat a poor diet.
Purpose
Vitamin B6 serves multiple purposes in the human body. It helps the immune system produce antibodies for fighting illness and infection. It also helps the nervous system maintain proper function and plays a role in the release of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is important in a person's overall well-being and feeling of happiness. Vitamin B6 also is involved in the protein synthesis process -- the breaking down of protein -- so people who eat lots of protein also need an increased amount of vitamin B6 in their diet.
Foods
Vitamin B6 is found in many different types of foods. The Office of Dietary Supplements says fortified cereal is one of the most concentrated vitamin B6 foods, supplying about 2 mg per serving. Other foods containing a relatively high concentration of vitamin B6 include potatoes, bananas, chicken breast, fish and sunflower seeds. Vitamin B6 supplementation is not necessary in most healthy people who eat a well-balanced diet; your doctor can suggest whether you should use a supplement.
Recommended Daily Allowance
The National Institutes of Health recommends that infants consume 0.1 mg per day until 7 months old, when the recommended daily allowance increases to 0.3 mg per day. Children between ages 1 and 13 need 0.5 to 1 mg. Most adults and teenagers should consume 1.3 mg per day. Elderly men over age 50 need 1.7 mg each day and females of the same age group require 1.5 mg per day. For reference, a single banana contains 0.68 mg, and a potato contains 0.70 mg of vitamin B6.
Weight Gain
Excess vitamin B6 exits your body through your urine, so consuming too much vitamin B6 is not a huge risk. However, the Office of Dietary Supplements says it is possible to damage nerve cells in the arms and legs when consuming 500 mg or more vitamin B6 each day. The NIH says vitamin B6 deficiency can lead to depression in some people due to the effect on serotonin levels. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology study linked depression with weight gain. So, in an indirect way, a vitamin B6 deficiency can lead to weight gain because of depression.
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