Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B6, as Pyridoxine HCl, is a water-soluble member of the B-Vitamin Complex that works with more than 60 enzymes in your body to accomplish many routine functions. Unfortunately, many nutritionists believe Americans don't get enough Vitamin B6. To make matters worse, alcohol promotes the destruction and loss of Vitamin B6 from the body.

A lack of Vitamin B6 can cause homocysteine (an amino acid associated with increased risk of heart disease) to build up in the body, which can lead to plaque buildup in blood vessels. Together with Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) and Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6 helps control blood levels of homocysteine, supporting the body against the risk of a heart attack.^[1]

Other functions Pyridoxine support include serotonin and other neurotransmitter production^[2] and the prevention of kidney stones. It also helps support your immune system by maintaining the health of lymphoid organs that make white blood cells.^[3]

Ingredient Research
1. Selhub J, Jacques PF, Bostom AG, D'Agostino RB, Wilson PW, Belanger AJ, O'Leary DH, Wolf PA, Scaefer EJ,
    Rosenberg IH. Association between plasma homocysteine concentrations and extracranial carotid-artery stenosis.
    N Engl J Med 1995; 332:286-291.
2. Leklem JE. Vitamin B6. In: Shils ME, Olson JA, Shike M, Ross AC, ed. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease.
    9th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1999: 413-421.
3. Chandra R and Sudhakaran L. Regulation of immune responses by Vitamin B6. NY Acad Sci 1990; 585:404-423.

Additional Resources
1. http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb6.asp
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B6