Vitamin B6 is an organic nutrient people need to ingest regularly to maintain optimal health. Little or no evidence links vitamin B6 deficiency to increased appetite, although people who take vitamin B6 as a supplement may experience a decrease in appetite. Talk to a nutritional specialist or other health-care professional if you need advice about a vitamin deficiency.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that occurs in three different forms, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: pyridoxal, pyridoxine and pyridoxamine. The human body is unable to synthesize these nutrients and must obtain them through the diet. Vitamin B6 serves numerous purposes in the body, including in such functions as creating hemoglobin, protein metabolism and red blood cell metabolism.
B6 Deficiency
B6 deficiency is rare in the United States, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Most people get enough vitamin B6 through their diets. However, deficiency is possible, especially in people with exceptionally poor diets. Vitamin B6 deficiency manifests itself with symptoms that include skin inflammation, sore tongue, depression and in more serious cases, convulsions.
Appetite and B6
Vitamin B6 deficiencies are not known to be associated with an increase in appetite. However, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, some people who take vitamin-B6 supplements have reported side effects that include a loss of appetite. Other side effects associated with these supplements includes nausea, abdominal pain and sensitivity to sunlight, though these are generally only present in small numbers of people who take high doses of vitamin B6 through supplements.
Sources of B6
Vitamin B6 is naturally present in various foods, such as baked potatoes, bananas, garbanzo beans, pork loin and various kinds of fortified breakfast cereals. Men and women need about the same amount of vitamin B6 per day, 13 mg, though people over age 50 need slightly more and pregnant or lactating women need 1.9 mg and 2.0 mg per day, respectively. B6 supplements are also available, but you should consult your doctor before deciding to take a dietary supplement.
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