Pyridoxine, Vitamin B6, B6, pyridoxine

Vitamin B6 / pyridoxine is a water-soluble vitamin and is part of the vitamin B complex.

Vitamin B6 / pyridoxine plays a role in the synthesis of antibodies by the immune system, which are needed to fight many diseases. It helps maintain normal nerve function and also acts in the formation of red blood cells. Vitamin B6 is also required for the chemical reactions needed to digest proteins. The higher the protein intake, the more the need for vitamin B6.

Vitamin B6 / pyridoxine is found in beans, nuts, legumes, eggs, meats, fish, whole grains, and fortified breads and cereals.

Large doses of vitamin B6 can cause neurological disorders and numbness. Deficiency of this vitamin can cause mouth and tongue sores, irritability, confusion, and depression.

Many people think that if some vitamins are good, a lot is better.
This is not always the case, and high doses of certain vitamins are actually toxic.
Read about the specific vitamins and check with your health care provider if you are unsure about how much to take -- and how much may be too much.

The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods and take a "Standardized" (quality) multivitamin supplement.