Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble essential vitamin, meaning that your body can’t manufacture it; you must get it though diet or supplements. Most people get enough B6 from their diet to meet the recommended daily requirement of 1.3 milligrams for men and women between the ages of 19 and 50 and 1.7 mg for men and 1.5 mg for women.
Vitamin B6 and Heart Disease--Reducing Homocysteine Levels
Vitamin B6 helps reduce homocysteine, an amino acid. Elevated homocysteine levels in your blood may indicate an increased risk of heart disease, possibly by damaging blood vessel walls or by causing platelets to clump together, forming clots, the National Institutes of Health states.
But while B6 may lower homocysteine levels, the exact relationship between homocysteine and heart disease hasn’t been established; lowering the levels may not decrease the risk of heart disease, the University of Maryland Medical Center cautions.
One study found that women who took consumed 4.6 mg of B6 had only 67 percent of the risk of developing heart disease that women who consumed 1.1 mg per day had, the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University reports.
Treating Premenstrual Syndrome, or PMS, with Vitamin B6 Supplements
Although B6 is often used to treat PMS, clinical trials have not proven a benefit in taking B6; a recent study showed B6 to be no more effective than a placebo, the National Institutes of Health reports. Many studies using B6 for PMS are poorly designed, making it difficult to draw accurate conclusions from them, the University of Maryland Medical Center states.
Taking large amounts of B6 has caused neuropathy in women whose B6 blood levels were elevated after taking B6 supplements, the NIH warns.
Treating Depression and Seratonin Levels with Vitamin B6 Supplementation
Because vitamin B6 can raise seratonin levels, and low levels of seratonin occur in depression, some researchers believe that B6 may benefit people with depression. Studies have not proven that taking B6 for depression helps, the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University states.
Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Vitamin B6 Over-the-Counter Supplements
Vitamin B6 treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome has been tried for over 30 years. Studies have not proven a benefit to taking B6 for carpal tunnel, although some studies have shown a decrease in symptoms. Vitamin B6 supplementation for carpal tunnel syndrome has caused neuropathy in some people, the NIH warns. Taking amounts higher than 100 mg, the maximum recommended dose, should be done only under the direction of your medical practitioner.
Considering B6 Supplementation--Risks of Developing Neuropathy and Benefits
Like many vitamins and mineral, B6 can be harmful if you take too much of it. Because vitamin B6 supplementation can cause serious problems with your nerves, take large quantities—anything over 100 mg per day—only under the guidance and supervision of medical personnel.
Sources:
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Vitamin B6; Accessed October 29, 2010
- National Institutes of Health: Vitamin B6; Accessed October 29, 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin B6; Accessed October 29,2010
Sharon Perkins - Sharon is an RN with over 20 years experience in maternal child health, oncology, and ophthalmology. She was the RN coordinator for an ...
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