Vitamin B-6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin -- because your body cannot efficiently store it in fat tissues, you must obtain this vitamin from food sources or supplements. It is commonly included in multivitamin and B-complex supplements. Vitamin B-6 may offer several health benefits for people living with diabetes. Talk to your doctor before increasing your vitamin B-6 intake to address diabetes symptoms or prevent complications.
Bone Strength
Diabetes may contribute to low blood levels of vitamin B-6, according to the June 2006 edition of "Osteoporosis International." Low blood levels of vitamin B-6 in diabetics may interfere with enzymatic cross-linking necessary for bone structure and strength. A long-term deficiency of vitamin B-6 in diabetics may contribute to osteoporosis, a condition characterized by gradual loss of bone density. The potential role of vitamin B-6 in osteoporosis prevention may reduce your risk of bone fractures and disfigurement. However, scientific studies have only been conducted on animals, so the link between vitamin B-6 and osteoporosis prevention in humans is not clear.
Protein Metabolism
Vitamin B-6 may improve your body's ability to metabolize proteins from food sources such as meats, nuts, seeds, grains, tofu and legumes, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Proteins are amino acid chains that serve as building blocks for cellular repair and help maintain muscle and connective tissue strength. Diabetes may interfere with protein metabolism, decreasing your body's ability to repair cells, according to "Diabetes Journal." Adding vitamin B-6 to your diet may help correct inadequate protein metabolism associated with diabetes.
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, loss of interest in daily activities, sleep disturbances, irritability and sadness. Diabetics are at higher risk of developing depression than non-diabetics, according to the American Diabetes Association. Vitamin B-6 may aid in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter chemical that regulates mood and may help alleviate depression, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Considerations
The recommended daily intake of vitamin B-6 for adults is 1.3 mg, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. There is no separate recommendation for diabetics. In addition to supplements, vitamin B-6 is found in foods such as sunflower seeds, carrots, spinach, brown rice, tuna, lentils, chicken and salmon. In rare cases, increasing your vitamin B-6 intake may cause sensitivity to sunlight, appetite changes and abdominal pains. Consuming more than 200 mg of vitamin B-6 per day may contribute to neurological problems such as numbness in the legs and poor physical balance.
References
- "Osteoporosis International"; Role of Collagen Enzymatic and Glycation Induced Cross-Links as a Determnant of Bone Quality in Spontaneously Diabetic WBN/Kob Rats; M. Saito, et al.; June 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine); Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; June 2009
- "Diabetes Journal"; Diabetes and Protein Metabolism; Niels Moller, et al.; January 2008
- American Diabetes Association: Depression
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