Vitamins play an important role in metabolic processes, act as antioxidants, and aid the immune system. The body can absorb them from food, synthesize them from food, or, for example, produce them under the influence of sunlight (in the case of vitamin D).

Pyridoxine

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is important for the breakdown and synthesis of amino acids. It is a water-soluble vitamin. It is crucial for growth, blood formation, the immune system, the nervous system, and the regulation of certain hormones.

Diet

It is present in products such as meat, eggs, fish, nuts, bread and grain products, legumes, vegetables, cheese, milk, and dairy products.

Deficiency

A prolonged severe deficiency can lead to anemia, nerve disorders, and a weakened immune system. Deficiency is rare in the Netherlands.

Excess

With prolonged use of supplements containing excessive doses of this vitamin (at> 21 milligram per day),harmful excess can occur. An excess of the active form of this vitamin can deactivate itself, resulting in a deficiency. An acceptable upper limit is 12 milligrams per day for adults. Prolonged excess canlead to nerve damage to hands and feet (polyneuropathy) , characterized by numbness, tingling, nerve pain, and/or paralysis symptoms .

Note: not only specific vitamin B6 supplements, but also B-complex andmany multivitamins contain over 100% of the daily recommended allowance (RDA) andcan be harmful.Therefore,considerdiscontinuing the use ofthesesupplements.. With a healthy and varied diet, you can obtain sufficient vitamins from your food.

This value is measured, among other things, in the Vitamins & Minerals and PMO comprehensive tests.

Sources

• Voedingscentrum: vitamine B6. Available at https://www.voedingscentrum.nl/encyclopedie/vitamine-b6.aspx
• Informatiecentrum voedingssupplementen & gezondheid: vitamine B6 (pyridocine). Available at https://www.ivg-info.nl/voedingssupplementen/vitamines/vitamine-b6-pyridoxine/