Studies find vitamin B6 benefits lead to significantly lower coronary risk of stroke and heart attack

Vitamin B6 benefits us by reducing our risk of heart attack and stroke. Also known as pyridoxine, it a water-soluble part of the B-complex vitamins and an extremely essential supplement for your body to maintain health. It is utilized in a variety of ways such as metabolizing protein, the production of hemoglobin (this allows your cells to carry oxygen), for maintaining blood sugar levels and providing other benefits for your body.

It is recommended that men and women up to age 50 have at least 100 mg of vitamin B6 per day. Over age 50 this can be incremented to as high as 1,000 mg for men and women. Pregnant or breast-feeding women should have 1,000 mg per day. Vitamin B6 can be found in fortified cereals, beans, fish, poultry and some fruits and vegetables. Foods do not provide enough vitamin B6 for our needs as we mature, therefore it is critical to take supplemental B6. There are a few groups of people that are more likely to develop a deficiency. Those people include: alcoholics, older adults, and children with asthma who are being treated with a medicine called theophylline. When deficiency does occur symptoms are only present after a long time of deficiency. Some symptoms of deficiency include anemia, skin inflammation, depression, sore tongue, confusion and convulsions.

Through studies it has been found that increased levels of homocysteine, an amino acid found in everyone’s blood, is a contributing factor to heart disease and stroke. Increased levels of homocysteine in the blood occur when there is a deficiency in vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid which increases the risk for heart disease or stroke. Research from Life Extension Foundation has found that homocysteine levels over 20 increase coronary risk by a factor of 9.9 fold over normal levels below 7. They recommend the following daily regiment to keep homocysteine levels at a normal level:

• 100-1000 mg of vitamin B6
• Up to 800 to 1,600 mcg of folic acid
• 300 – 500 mcg of vitamin B12

The risk associated with taking too much vitamin B6 is minimal since it is water soluble and is not stored by the body. People that take over 100 mg per day may experience nerve tenderness in their arms and legs, but the effects can be reversed by easing back on the amount of daily B6 supplementation.

Learn more about how this and other supplements may benefit your health.