Search for wellness enhancements with nutrition, supplements, and exercise. We help you reduce medication dependence and achieve ideal health.
Vitamin B6
Summary and Conclusion: Vitamin B6
The primary physician should screen patients at risk for hyperhomocysteinemia (high homocysteine level) by sending a blood test for homocysteine level. A meta-analysis by Herrmann W, et al found that lowering homocysteine with folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 showed a tendency toward lowering the risk of stroke (1).
A prevention evaluation by Saposnik G, et al in the HOPE-2 trail demonstrated that 2.5 mg. of folic acid (vitamin B9), 50 mg vitamin B6 and 1mg of vitamin B12 daily for 5 years reduced the risk of stroke by 25%. Interestingly, no noticeable effect was observed during the first 3 years of the supplements. The risk of stroke was lower in those who followed the vitamin regimen. Those who benefited the most included: younger than age 69, patients with higher cholesterol and homocysteine levels at the start of the study, those from areas where folic acid-fortified food isn’t available, and those who weren’t receiving anti-platelet drugs or cholesterol-lowering drugs. (2)
Vitamin B6 is useful for treating sideroblastic anemia (4).
Mintzer S, et al found that 48% of subjects taking antiepileptic drugs were vitamin B6 deficient (5).
Patients with lower B12 levels and higher homocysteine levels had more severe depression than those with normal levels. (6)
Ensure adequate intake of vitamin B6 in pregnancy. Vitamin B6 deficiency has been associated with early gestational diabetes, neurologic disease in babies, pre-eclampsia, and hyperemesis gravidarum (7).
