Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin, which is important for the proper functioning of the cells. This means that they make sure that the cells are healthy and also create blood cells, while also helping with metabolism. Vitamin B6 is also known as pyridoxine, and it is called a water-soluble vitamin because it dissolves in water. When a person consumes foods containing protein and carbohydrate, vitamin B6 helps the body use and store the energy gotten from these nutrients. Examples of foods which are good sources of vitamin B6 include bananas, Pork, Oats, Milk, Peanuts, Chicken or turkey, Soya beans, Wheatgerm and so on.
Adults between the ages 19 to 64, need about 1.2mg of vitamin B6 per day for women and 1.4 a day for men. It is important that your daily diet is able to adequately provide the vitamin B6 you need every day. The human body cannot on its own produce vitamin B6, so you must get it through foods and supplements. There are some common health benefits of Vitamin B6.
Helps in Mood Improvement
Vitamin B6 plays a vital part in mood improvement and regulation. Most features of depression are associated with the mood. Vitamin B6 can help improve a depressed person’s mood because it creates neurotransmitters that regulate a person’s feelings and emotions. Examples of these neurotransmitters are serotonin, dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA] [1]. Studies have shown that older adults who have a high risk for vitamin B deficiency, show symptoms of depression due to their low blood levels and consumption of vitamin B6. Another study was conducted with 250 older adults and it was discovered that inadequate blood levels of vitamin B6 increased the likelihood of depression [2].