Vitamin B-6, also called pyridoxine, is an important nutrient for good health. Your body needs B-6 for a number of important functions, including the production of red blood cells. In medicine, B-6 supplements are primarily used to correct B-6 deficiencies caused by inadequate dietary intake, certain diseases and certain medications that reduce levels of B-6 in the body.
B-6 in the Body
Like all B vitamins, your body needs B-6 to get energy from food, help the nervous system run properly, and to maintain healthy skin, liver, eyes and hair. Your body also uses vitamin B-6 to produce red blood cells and immune system cells, as well as neurotransmitters -- brain chemicals used to regulate moods and to promote normal cognitive functioning. Additionally, your body uses B-6 to control blood levels of the amino acid, homocysteine, and to properly absorb vitamin B-12. Your body is not able to store B-6 as it is a water-soluble vitamin, which means you need to get B-6 from food.
Valid Medicinal Uses
The primary medicinal use for vitamin B-6 supplements is to prevent or treat a vitamin B-6 deficiency. Although rare in healthy people, vitamin B-6 deficiencies may occur to due to inadequate dietary intake, certain disease states, and from taking certain drugs such as isoniazid, cycloserine or penicillamine. According to MayoClinic.com, other medical uses for B-6 supplements which are supported by strong scientific evidence include: treating hereditary sideroblastic anemia, treating neuritis, and treating seizures in pyridoxine-dependent newborns.
Experimental Uses
Scientists have tested the use of B-6 to treat a number of health problems, although there is not enough evidence to support its use for most of these conditions. According to MayoClinic.com, preliminary research indicates B-6 may be useful in treating asthma, akathisia, carpal tunnel syndrome, dysphoric mental states, cyperkinetic cerebral dysfunction syndrome, and several other conditions; however, further research is needed to confirm these findings. There is also mixed evidence regarding whether B-6 is an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and for relieving symptoms of PMS, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Considerations
Most people who eat a varied diet are not at risk for developing B-6 deficiency and do not require supplementation. Per RDA guidelines, adults require 1.3 mg of B-6 per day, which may be obtained from a number of foods including cereals, meats, beans, poultry, fish, and certain fruits and vegetables, including bananas and potatoes. It's important to note that all B-vitamins, including B-6, may reduce the effectiveness of the antibiotic tetracycline, and B-6 may also reduce the effectiveness of the seizure drug phenytoin. Very high doses of B-6 can cause neurological disorders including loss of sensation in the legs. Because of its potential for side effects and drug interactions, it's important to check with a health care provider before taking B-6 or any other dietary supplement to treat a health condition.
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