Vitamin B6 is essential for the synthesis of the important neurotransmitters serotonin, GABA and dopamine. It is also involved in more than 80 chemical reactions in the human body.
Its deficiency can be associated with irritability, anxiety, depression, poor memory, attention deficit, sleep disorders and even psychosis in more serious cases.
Concentrations of it in the brain are usually around 100 times higher than those in the blood. Its most active form is P5P - Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate, but successful replacement has been studied using both forms: both pyridoxine and P5P.
It is usually destroyed if exposed to high temperatures, such as prolonged cooking, for example, or storage and exposure to light. Smoking and the use of contraceptives reduce its levels. Drinking alcoholic beverages, lots of coffee and protein-rich diets make vitamin B6 more necessary for the body. We shouldn't have so many vitamin B6 deficiencies out there, but due to the factors mentioned above, it's becoming increasingly common, and detected both by symptoms and tests.
I'd like to add my tip, proven by my experience in the office: psychiatric problems are often improved or even cured simply by improving lifestyle habits and filling vitamin, mineral and/or hormone deficiencies, as well as reducing inflammation, before medication is needed. And when they are needed, following these tips will improve results or even reduce treatment time.
Main source: Nutrient Power - William J. Walsh
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