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Why this Vitamin B6 Essential?

Published by Khalid Hosseini | December 17th 2009 | Views:

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Vitamin B6 is also known as pyridoxine. It is a water-soluble vitamin and a part of the vitamin B complex group. The active form of this vitamin which is pyridoxal phosphate is a cofactor in many reactions of amino acid (protein) metabolism like transamination, deamination, and decarboxylation. It also takes part in enzymatic reaction during the release of glucose from glycogen.

Animal sources such as egg yolk, fish, milk, meat are rich in vitamin B6. Wheat, corn, cabbage, roots and tubers are good vegetable sources. Cooking, storage and processing of food, like freezing and canning result in loss of the vitamin from foods. It is absorbed in the jejunum and ileum via passive diffusion and the amount of absorption is much greater than the physiological need. It is excreted in small amounts in urine which is not detectable and feces.

Vitamin B6 is essential in amino acid metabolism, gluconeogenesis (glucose is released from glycogen), lipid metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, formation of myelin, histamine synthesis, hemoglobin synthesis and function, gene expression. It is believed to be involved in immune function and prevent urine stone formation.

Deficiency of vitamin B6 results in seborrhoeic dermatitis, atrophic glossitis with ulceration, angular cheilitis and conjunctivitis, neurological symptoms like depression, irritability, nervousness and mental confusion. It might also result in decreased hemoglobin levels, associated with hypochromic microcytic anemia. Vitamin B6 deficiency is usually rare and in seen in women taking oral contraceptives, alcoholics and infants. Certain drugs like antitubercular drug - isoniazide and pencillamine combine with the active form of the vitamin and result in formation of inactive forms and are called vitamin B6 antagonists.
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