Vitamin B6 | Pyridoxine 5-phosphate

Vitamin B6 | Pyridoxine 5-phosphate

Properties: Vitamin B6 has many different roles and affects various functional systems of the body. First and foremost, it is essential for the smooth functioning of the cardiovascular system, as it is important in the context of maintaining good blood vessel health. Adequate levels of vitamin B6 are important for the prevention of cardiovascular disorders, as this vitamin helps to ensure balanced blood pressure and lower the level of homocysteine that contributes to the development of cardiovascular disorders. What’s more, vitamin B6 is beneficial for bone health and supports good skin and hair condition. At the same time, it facilitates the body’s recovery after exercise, enhancing the secretion of growth hormone, which helps the body to regenerate during sleep. It is also an important support for efficient brain function, since it shows neuroprotective effects, which essentially means it protects nerve cells from harmful factors. In addition, it supports cognitive functions, including, among other things, the ability to focus attention, which is crucial for the effective absorption of information. It is worth noting that vitamin B6 participates in the production of neurotransmitters responsible for maintaining our well-being, including, among others, serotonin, known as the “happiness hormone,” and dopamine, which is crucial for the feeling of pleasure. It also increases the activity of brain chemical GABA, thus contributing to our stress resilience. All these properties testify to the comprehensive influence of this vitamin on the well-being of the entire body.

Occurrence: Small amounts of vitamin B6 are produced by microorganisms that are part of the intestinal microbiota. This is not sufficient to meet the needs of the human body, so the vitamin must be supplied with food. Among its richest sources are: fresh salmon, calf and beef liver, sesame seeds, millet groats, walnuts, mackerel, sunflower seeds, lentils, beans and hazelnuts.

Biochemistry: Vitamin B6 is a group of compounds that includes pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine and their 5′-phosphate derivatives. They all contain a pyridine ring in the molecule and are water soluble. In the body, they are converted by a system of kinases and oxidases to pyridoxal 5′-phosphate. It is a cofactor of numerous enzymes, so it participates in chemical reactions necessary for the proper functioning of the entire body.

Fun fact: There are reports that vitamin B6 supplementation increases the frequency and duration of the REM sleep phase, in which dreams occur. Researchers speculate that pyridoxine may be useful as an enhancer for the induction of so-called lucid dreams.