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The Benefits of Vitamin B6 and the Symptoms and Illnesses Related to B6 Deficiency

© Shannon Evans

Also called Pyridoxine, Vitamin B6 relieves numerous conditions, illnesses and diseases. Stress, poor eating habits and little exercise often yield little time for a healthy lifestyle, and may eventually lead to unexplained illnesses and fatigue. People frequently fail to meet the daily requirements of essential vitamins, minerals and other nutritional elements resulting in biochemical deficiencies within the body. The missing pieces to the diet puzzle are often overlooked, and one of the key vitamins in this category is Vitamin B6.

Symptoms of Vitamin B6 Deficiency

Signs of a shortage of B6 in your diet include irritability, fatigue, hair loss, moodiness, loss of appetite, and cracking, dry skin especially on the lips and tongue.

Multitudes of women suffer from monthly irritability, moodiness, cramping, and bloating associated with PMS. Researchers have discovered a link between vitamin B6 and these cyclic hormonal swings. Vitamin B6 also treats other feminine problems such as menopause, infertility and nausea during pregnancy. In fact, with all of its success, some have labeled B6 the "Woman's Vitamin." However, all people need this essential vitamin in their daily diets .

Over 60 different bodily enzymes require vitamin B6 to perform properly. In addition, Vitamin B12 relies upon its B cousin for assistance in adequate absorption of nutrients into our bodies. Vitamin B6 promotes healthy skin and hair; therefore, it is not surprising that a B6 deficiency could easily lead to a skin disorder. B6 supplementation treats common skin conditions such as:

• Eczema
• Dandruff (Seborrheic dermatitis)
• Psoriasis
• Acne
• Dry Skin
• Hair Loss

Vitamin B6 also has therapeutic effects on Melanoma; studies show B6 therapy represses growth of melanoma cells. B6 therapy has been shown to reduce the symptoms of Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, a skin condition is a possible side effect from chemotherapy with the drug 5-fluorouracil.

Typical Candidates for Vitamin B6 Deficiency

The following people are likely to develop a B6 deficiency:

• elderly people
• teenagers
• women taking birth control pills
• alcoholics
• heart Disease Patients
• autistic Patients
• people on high protein, high fat or high sugar diets
• people under stress
• people taking steroids, antibiotics, and other drugs

For athletes involved in intense exercise programs Vitamin B6 has also had significant impact on treating diseases unrelated to the skin and hair. Patients with asthma, autism (when B6 is taken with magnesium), infant seizures, cardiac disease, depression, carpal tunnel syndrome, migraines, kidney stones, muscle pains, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, neuritis, anemia, and influenza have all shown marked improvement with B6 treatments.