Vitamin B6 Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes & Prevention

What Is Vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6 is a vital water-soluble vitamin responsible for various bodily activities. It is the collective name for six vitamers or compounds that perform vitamin B6 functionality: pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine, and phosphorylated derivatives.

Vitamin B6 in coenzyme forms, such as Pyridoxal 5’ Phosphate (PLP) and Pyridoxamine 5’ Phosphate (PMP), perform nearly 100 enzyme reactions, majorly related to protein metabolism, immune function, and haemoglobin formation.
 

In addition, they are significant for cognitive development by means of the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters. Furthermore, they help maintain normal levels of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood.

Sources of Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is found in foods such as fish, potatoes, beef, fruits, poultry, fortified cereals, and starchy vegetables. It is also available as a stand-alone supplement and other supplements containing B - Complex vitamins. 

What Is Vitamin B6 Deficiency?

Vitamin B6 deficiency is a health condition in your body when it lacks an adequate amount of this vitamin. Isolated vitamin B6 is not predominant. It is generally associated with a low absorption and concentration of other B - Complex vitamins such as folic acid and vitamin B12.
 

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), the average level of intake sufficient to meet the nutritional requirement based on age, is as follows:
 

Vitamin B6 deficiency can lead to various health issues due to its significant role in diverse bodily functions. The health conditions can be identified through an array of B6 deficiency symptoms that impact the different bodily functions.

Understanding Symptoms Of Vitamin B6 Deficiency

• Skin conditions
  Red, itchy, oily rashes on your neck, chest, scalp, and upper chest are common symptoms. It can also cause swelling or white patches.
• Sore and swollen lips
  Vitamin B6 deficiency can cause sore, swollen, red lips, also called cheilosis, with cracked mouth corners. The cracked areas can get infected and bleed with pain.
• Inflamed tongue
  A swollen, sore, red, or inflamed tongue, also called glossitis, is a common symptom of vitamin B6 deficiency. It can cause problems while chewing, talking, or swallowing.
• Lack of immunity
  A deficiency in vitamin B6 can cause a decreased production of antibodies and white blood cells that regulate immune function that are important to fight infections.
• Anxiety issues
  As vitamin B6 is involved in the production of various neurotransmitters, a deficiency can cause irritability, depression, and anxiety.
• Nerve damages
  Vitamin B6 deficiency can cause nerve damage that can lead to shooting, burning, and tingling in your hands, arms, legs, and feet.
• Anaemia
  Vitamin B6 plays a vital role in the formation of haemoglobin. Without this vitamin, you can feel unusually tired and anaemic.
• Seizures
  Seizures are a common symptom of vitamin B6 in infants. However, it can affect adults predominantly during pregnancy, consumption of excessive alcohol, medication interactions, etc.
• Increased levels of homocysteine
  Vitamin B6 deficiency can cause an abnormal increase in the level of homocysteine, a byproduct of protein digestion. High levels of homocysteine can cause several health issues, including heart stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, etc.

Explore Causes Of Vitamin B6 Deficiency

As vitamin B6 is present in various foods, vitamin B6 disease and deficiency are caused due to inadequate intake or excessive processing that can remove the vitamin from the foods.

Here are a few other important causes of low vitamin B6:
 

• Impaired absorption of food, also called malabsorption disorders, such as ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, etc.
• Excessive consumption of alcohol can cause vitamin B6 deficiency.
• Usage of medications that reduce the concentration of vitamin B6 in the body, such as antiseizure, corticosteroids, etc.
• Hemodialysis, where blood is removed from the body and pumped outside the body by a machine into a dialyser, can also cause excessive loss of vitamin B6.

Proactive Measures - Prevention Of Vitamin B6 Deficiency

Vitamin B6 is found in various foods, both of animal and plant origin. However, the bioavailability is less in plant sources. Therefore, vegans are highly likely to experience vitamin B6 deficiency.

It is always important to identify the right food sources, understand the difference between healthy food and unhealthy food and have a balanced diet.

The following are the plant, animal, and synthetic sources of vitamin B6:
 

Here is more detail about the vitamin B6-rich foods that can help avoid vitamin B6 deficiency treatment:
 

Health Insurance Acts When Health Requires Attention

While prevention is always better than cure, certain lifestyle scenarios can compel you to deviate from your balanced diet, triggering health issues due to vitamin B6 deficiency.

In such scenarios, a health insurance plan can help you cover medical tests, consultations, and treatments for timely recovery. Therefore, it is essential to be proactive in making well-informed decisions about purchasing a health insurance plan early in life to lead a healthy and happy life. 

Conclusion

The importance of vitamin B6 in maintaining optimal health cannot be overstated. It is an essential nutrient for various bodily functions ranging from enzymatic reactions to immune system regulation and neurotransmitter production. Vitamin deficiency and its symptoms are highly profound, from skin damage to mood changes. Understanding the deficiency of vitamin B6 causes and its prevention is crucial to addressing the risk factors that can impact your health due to inadequate levels of vitamin B6. Focus on a balanced diet with vitamin B6 foods with a medical expert to embrace healthier well-being.