ÿþ<html> <head> <title>Nutter's Bulk & Natural Foods - Article on Vitamin B6</title> <meta name="description" content="Involved in more bodily functions than almost any other single nutrient, vitamin B6 helps with everything from acne to generalized weakness."> <meta name="keywords" content="vitamin, vitamin B6, b6, acne, weakness, pyridoxine, RNA, DNA, nucleic acids, anemia, water-soluble, vitamins, diet, supplements"> <STYLE> A:link {text-decoration:none} A:visited {text-decoration:none} A:hover {text-decoration:none} A:active {text-decoration:none} </STYLE> </head> <body ALINK="#687519" VLINK="#687519" LINK="#687519"> <center> <table width=800 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td width=800 valign=top> <img src="banner2.jpg"> </td></tr> <tr> <td width=800 height=63 valign=middle background="navbar1.jpg"> <font face="Arial" size=4 color="#E0E0E0"> <center> <a href="index.html"><font color=white>Home</a> | <a href="about.html"><font color=white>About Us</font></a> | <a href="stores.html"><font color=white>Locate A Store</a> | <a href="flyer1.html"><font color=white>Current Flyer</a> | <a href="wellbeing.html"><font color=white>Wellbeing Information</a> | <a href="work.html"><font color=white>Work With Us</a> | <a href="recipes.html"><font color=white>Recipes</a> </td></tr> </table> <table width=800 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td width=800 valign=top> <font face="Arial" size=3><br> <a href="artsindex.html"><font face="Times New Roman" size=4" color=red> <b>~ Back to Articles Index Page ~</b></font></a><br> <br> <center><img src="vitb6article.jpg"></center><br> <br> Involved in more bodily functions than almost any other single nutrient, vitamin B6 helps with everything from acne to generalized weakness. Also known as pyridoxine, vitamin B6 is involved in the synthesis of the very stuff our genetic programming is created from; RNA and DNA. These two nucleic acids are responsible for instructing every cell in our body on how and when to reproduce and grow and die in a timely fashion. The advantages and usefulness of vitamin B6 are so extensive that it is used to help patients with the side effects from radiation treatment and treatment with certain prescription medications. It is also used to help fight anemia. The B vitamins are water-soluble. This means that your body cannot store B vitamins. It takes what it needs from your diet, and any supplements you might be taking, and flushes the rest from your system so that an overload does not occur. <br> <br> Need more help with which vitamins do what? Take our quick Self-Assessment Quiz to see which symptoms come about when you become deficient in specific vitamins. Visit the home page of our website at <a href="index.html"><font color=blue>www.nutters.com</font></a> to access this quiz. <br> <br> <b>Word of the Day: <i>Enzyme</i></b>  an enzyme is a protein produced in cells that acts as a catalyst speeding up the rate of biological reactions without itself being used up. <br> <br> <b>RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCE:</b><br> <br> <table width=195 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=10 border=1> <tr> <td width=110 valign=top> <font face="Arial" size=2> Women 19-30<br> Women 31-50<br> Men 19-30<br> Men 31-50<br> </td> <td width=85 valign=top> <font face="Arial" size=2> 1.3mg<br> 1.3mg<br> 1.3mg<br> 1.3mg<br> </td></tr> </table> <br> <b>What Does That Look Like?</b><br> <br> <table width=325 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=10 border=1> <tr> <td width=240 valign=top> <font face="Arial" size=2> Chicken breast<br> Baked potato, med. <br> <br> Rainbow trout, 6 oz. <br> Spinach, ½ cup <br> Lima beans, ½ cup<br> </td> <td width=85 valign=top> <font face="Arial" size=2> 1.04mg<br> 0.70mg<br> <br> 0.60mg<br> 0.14mg<br> 0.10mg<br> </td></tr> </table> <br> <B>WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF B6 IN THE BODY?</B><br> <br> Vitamin B6 activates many enzymes in your body. This is important because enzymes are like the crank on a vintage butter churn; without the crank, the butter would never be made. And although repeatedly used, the crank itself seldom wears out. <br> <br> Along with assisting the activation of enzymes, B6 aids in the absorption of vitamin B12 by the body. To find out more about vitamin B12, <a href="vitb12.html"><font color=blue>CLICK HERE</font></a>. <br> <br> Pyridoxine is required for the proper function of sugars, fats, and proteins in the body. It is also required for the proper growth and development of the brain, nerves, skin, and many other parts of the body. <font size=1>3</font><br> <br> Vitamin B6 is used to support your immune system because it helps with the production of antibodies. Antibodies are specialized proteins and are produced by your immune system when antigens (anything foreign to the body such as toxins, bacteria and even transplanted organs or blood cells) are detected in your body. When this system goes awry and antibodies begin attacking their own tissue instead of something foreign, the condition is known as an <i>autoimmune disease</i>. <br> <br> Vitamin B6 has been shown to benefit your cardiovascular system by inhibiting the formation of a toxic chemical called homocysteine. This chemical attacks the heart muscle and also allows cholesterol to be deposited around the heart, building up to dangerous levels. <br> <br> <b>WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A B6 DEFICIENCY?</b><br> <br> A deficiency of B6 can result in the following symptoms: <UL> <LI>Anemia <LI>Convulsions <LI>Headaches <LI>Nausea <LI>Flaky skin <LI>A sore tongue <LI>Dizziness <LI>Fatigue <LI>Hyperirritability <LI>Wounds that take a long time to heal <LI>Inflammation of the mouth and gums <LI>Impaired memory/memory loss <LI>Hair loss <LI>Hearing problems <LI>Oily facial skin </UL> <b>WHAT CONDITIONS CAN BENEFIT FROM TAKING VITAMIN B6?</b><br> <br> Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, has been used in treating anemia as a result of low levels of B6 in the body. <br> <br> B6 is also used also used for heart disease; high cholesterol; reducing blood levels of homocysteine and helping clogged arteries stay open after a balloon procedure to unblock them (angioplasty). <font size=1>4</font><br> <br> B6 is frequently used by women for a whole host of conditions including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), general menstrual problems like bloating, morning sickness, stopping milk flow after pregnancy, depression-related to pregnancy and symptoms of menopause. <br> <br> Used for many nervous system-related conditions, B6 has been found effective in use with Alzheimer's disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and nerve pain. <br> <br> In general, vitamin B6 has been helpful with conditions such as migraine headaches, asthma, night leg cramps and restless leg syndrome (RLS), muscle cramps, bladder infections, arthritis, allergies, acne and other skin conditions, motion sickness, eye infections and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the prevention of kidney stones and movement disorders such as hyperkinesis (overactive restlessness) and tardive dyskinesia (involuntary rolling of the tongue and twitching of the face, trunk or limbs). <br> <br> <center> <table width=550 cellpadding=10 cellspacing=0 border=2> <tr> <td width=550 bgcolor="#5DA02B"> <font face="Arial" size="3"> As always, consult your primary health care provider before adding anything new to your supplement regime. There are contraindications with certain drugs such as the asthma drug <i>theophylline, Larodopa, phenytoin, phenobarbital, Laniazid, Apresoline </i>and<i> penicillamine (Cuprimine </i>and <i>Depen</i>). Vitamin B6 may increase the risk for sun reactions (photosensitivity) in patients taking <i>Cordarone</i>. </td></tr> </table> </center> <br> <br> <b>NUTRITIONAL SOURCES OF B6:</b><br> <UL> <LI>Brewer's yeast <LI>Blackstrap molasses <LI>Brown rice <LI>Chicken <LI>Eggs <LI>Fish <LI>Meats <LI>Sunflower seeds <LI>Walnuts <LI>Wheat germ <LI>Whole grains </UL> Vegetables, such as avocado, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, corn, peas, potatoes and spinach.<br> <br> Fruits, such as bananas and cantaloupe.<br> <br> <b>NUTTERS CAN SUGGEST:</b><br> <br> <img src="nfvitb6.jpg" align=left hspace=24 vspace=12 border=0> <br><br><br> <br> Vitamin B6 has often been called "the woman's vitamin" because it is so helpful for premenstrual syndrome, and may help the depression associated with the use of oral contraceptives. Vitamin B6 may help prevent certain complications of pregnancy including nausea and vomiting, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth retardation, and toxemia. Persons at risk for vitamin B6 deficiency: anyone with a malabsorption problem (such as lactose intolerance or celiac disease); diabetics; elderly; women who are pregnant, nursing or taking oral contraceptives.<br> <br><br><br> <br> <b>REFERENCES:</b><br> <br> 1. Barron's Dictionary of Medical Terms<br> <br> 2. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fourth Edition, Phyllis A. Balch, CNC.<br> <br> 3 & 4. Medline Plus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. <br> <br> <br> <font face="Times New Roman" size=3><i><b>Carol Roy is a Natural Health Practitioner, registered with Natural Health Practitioners Canada, who received her diploma from the Alternative Medicine College of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. With 10 years experience in her area of expertise, naturopathic medicine, Carol has also trained to become a fully qualified Reiki Master, Quantum Touch ® Practitioner and Reflexologist.</b></font></i> <br><br> <center>The suggestions by Nutter s Bulk & Natural Foods and the contents of this article<br>are recommendations only and not a substitute for any medical advice or a <br>replacement for any prescriptions. Seek medical advice for any health concerns.<br>Consult your health care provider before using any recommendations herein.</center><br> <br> </td></tr> </table> <table width=800> <tr> <td width=800> <img src="dancingbanner.jpg"> </td></tr> <tr> <td width=800 height=40 bgcolor="#c62a29"> <center><font face="Arial" size=2 color="#E0E0E0"> <b>Nutter's Bulk & Natural Foods </b>107, 1601 Dunmore Road SE., Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z8 (403) 529-1664 <img src="transpacer.gif" height=20 width=20 ALIGN="absmiddle"> <a href="stores.html"><b><font color="#E0E0E0">Locate A Store</b></a><font size=2> </td></tr> </table> </body> </html>