Vitamin B-6 is a water-soluble vitamin with many functions in the body. It occurs in three forms: pyridoxal, pyridoxine and pyridoxamine. Vitamin B-6 is needed for the metabolism of proteins and the synthesis of red blood cells that carry oxygen in the blood. Vitamin B-6 is also needed for the maintenance of the nervous and immune systems. According to MedlinePlus, the lack of vitamin B-6 may play a role in the development of heart disease.
Vitamin B-6 and Homocysteine
Lack of vitamin B-6 is associated with increased blood homocysteine. According to the American Heart Association, elevated blood homocysteine is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases; therefore, maintaining adequate intake of vitamin B-6 is important in preventing or reducing the risks for cardiovascular diseases. High levels of homocysteine damage blood vessel walls and increase the likelihood for clot formation.
Causes of Vitamin B-6 Deficiency
Vitamin B-6 deficiency is likely to occur as a result of prolonged consumption of foods with poor nutritive value. Alcoholics are at risk for developing vitamin B-6 deficiency because of their poor dietary habits. Medications such as isoniazid, used in treating tuberculosis and hydralazine -- an anti-hypertensive medication, may also result in heart disease as a result of vitamin B-6 deficiency.
Development of Heart Disease
The function of the heart depends on the blood it receives and the energy it needs to pump out oxygen-rich blood to the body. When blood vessels around the body are indirectly damaged as a result of vitamin B-6 deficiency, the heart has to pump harder and also use more energy. The heart tries to adapt to the increased workload by increasing in muscle size; this increase in size results in the reduction of the heart chamber size, which reduces the heart's ability to fill up with blood.
Reducing Cardiovascular Risks
Cardiovascular risks associated with low vitamin B-6 are reduced with adequate intake or supplementation of vitamin B-6. Sources of vitamin B-6 include potatoes, chicken breasts, oatmeal, pork loin, bananas, vegetables and whole grains. Consumption of vitamin B-6-fortified foods can also provide sufficient vitamin B-6. Supplementation of vitamin B-6 is in most cases not needed since a proper diet is usually sufficient for maintaining adequate levels of vitamin B-6. However, supplementation may be useful in alcoholics and the elderly, who tend to have poor dietary habits. According to MedlinePlus, vitamin B-6 is supplemented at doses of 2.5 to 25 mg per day for three weeks; to maintain achieved levels, vitamin B-6 is supplemented at 1.5 to 2.5 mg/day.
