Harm when excess or deficiency of vitamin B6

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc - General Internal Medicine - Endocrinology - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital. Doctor has more than 10 years of studying, researching and working in the field of endocrinology.
Vitamin B6 is an important nutrient for the body. Vitamin B6 deficiency or excess leads to many harmful effects on health.

1. The role of Vitamin B6 in the body

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a vitamin belonging to the vitamin B group and has many important roles in the body, specifically as follows
Vitamin B6 acts as a coenzyme to participate in metabolic reactions in the body, helping to synthesize neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, taurin, norepinephrine, histamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid.. and essential amino acids for the body. Play an important role in the metabolism of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, participates in converting glycogen into glucose, thereby helping to maintain stable blood sugar levels Vitamin B6 also participates in the synthesis of hemoglobin Helps to enhance urinary oxalate excretion, fight kidney stones Helps protect the heart, reduce cholesterol, strengthen the immune system and maintain healthy brain function.

2. What are the harmful effects of vitamin B6 deficiency?

Vitamin B6 plays an important role in the development of the fetus and child after birth, especially important in the development of the nervous system and brain. Vitamin B6 deficiency can lead to many symptoms: fatigue, irritability, insomnia, mental confusion, dry chapped lips, dry skin, acne, hair loss, red eyes, blurred vision, slow healing wounds, immunosuppression, neuralgia, epilepsy and elevated homocysteine ​​levels... People who are alcoholics, malnourished, have cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure, etc. are often at high risk of vitamin B6 deficiency. .

3. What are the harmful effects of too much vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6 is an important nutrient for the body. However, too much vitamin B6 can also cause harm. For adults, a vitamin B6 supplement of more than 100mg per day carries a risk of nerve damage. Excess vitamin B6 can also cause numbness in the feet, hands or even loss of sensation.

4. Supplement vitamin B6 properly

Many experts recommend adding vitamin B6 to the diet at a dose of about 1mg/day for adults to help normalize metabolism. As for people with reduced PLP/plasma due to metabolic dysfunction in the body, it is necessary to add more than 25mg. To get enough vitamin B6, it is necessary to add to the diet the following foods: bananas, potatoes, whole grains, fish, poultry, lean beef, cheese, cauliflower, carrots, cabbage corn, watermelon, soybeans, peanuts, eggs...
To prevent vitamin B6 from being lost during food storage and processing, food should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from moisture and moisture. Avoid direct sunlight.

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