Take Vitamin B6 For Your Heart’s Sake

First isolated in the 1930s, vitamin B6 is a water soluble vitamin highly crucial to human health. A sufficient supply of food is necessary because the vitamin can not be produced by the body and is involved for the proper application of more than 100 enzymes in vital biochemical reactions are required.

Among the many features in their form of coenzyme pridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), vitamin B6 is for the release of energy in the body essential for the proper formation and function of oxygen-carrying red blood cells and for the synthesis of neuro-transmission hormones in the brain.

There is also some evidence that PLP a role in mitigating the potentially harmful effects of the steroid can play (sex) hormones such as estrogen and testosterone in the body, so that the level of vitamin B6 can be brought even feature on the incidence of the compound as cancers of the breast and prostate cancers that are most strongly associated with the hormones.

Perhaps most importantly, vitamin B6 role in the regulation of the protein, homocysteine, even handsome increases the blood levels of which have been identified repeatedly as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Homocysteine is a normal byproduct of digestion in the body of protein foods and should be harmlessly removed from the body in general. But to build the risk of overcapacity is negligible.

A large European study in 1997 by young and middle aged adults showed a more than doubled risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke for people whose blood homocysteine levels were in the top fifth of the normal range. And some sources write down as many as 10% of fatal heart attacks and an even higher proportion of stroke deaths that are directly attributable to high homocysteine levels. Since these are still two of the most common causes of premature death in the rich western world, such figures are particularly alarming.

The B-vitamin complex is known to be vital for the prevention of excess homocysteine be. Vitamin B12 and folic operate to convert homocysteine into the essential amino acid methionine, while B6 in the form of PLP, it converts into another amino acid cysteine.

Thus it is not surprising, studies have a clear link between low intake of vitamin B6, higher blood homocysteine and increased risk of cardiovascular disease detected. One of these studies, in particular, showed that the daily intake of 4.6 mg of vitamin B6 reduces the incidence of heart disease by more than one third compared with the consumption of 1.1 mg (slightly below the 1.3 mg Recommended Dietary Allowance ( RDA) for adults under 50).

In addiition who associate their important role in regulating homocysteine levels in the blood, there is some good advice on vitamin B6 with the proper functioning of the immune system and Indivdual a lack of B6 has also been shown to have reduced the number of viable cells of the immune system . It is also noteworthy that the quantities of vitamin B6 required to restore optimal immune function, particularly in the elderly, has been shown to be well above the recommended daily intake. Other benefits of vitamin B6, for which there are few research results improved memory, reduced incidence of kidney stones, the alleviation of premenstrual syndrome, side effects of the pill and morning sickness during pregnancy.

Serious deficiency of vitamin B6 are accepted by most conventional medical sources, that would be highly unlikely in Western societies and, in fact, the following nutritional values that the RDA of 1.3 mg for adults and 1.7 mg for those over 50 year-olds should be easily accessible to propose. A cup of fortified cereal is 0.5 to 2.5 mg and provide even a single banana, perhaps as much as 0.4 mg. Meat, particularly poultry such as chickens and turkeys, is up to 0.5 mg / 3 oz serving, as well as fish. Vegetables, especially potatoes, nuts are also useful sources.

However, despite this large number of possible sources, surveys have shown that the typical adult daily intake of B6 only about 2 mg per day, and for older people to reduce this to 1 to 1.2 mg. Both figures are worrying because they do not only show that many older people fall below the RDA, but that many younger adults do too dangerous, so close. It should be remembered also that the RDA are always at a level just sufficient to winning not want to avoid that at all the same as an optimal health.

Are soluble in water, vitamin B6 is easily excreted from the body and the use of alcohol and other diuretic drinks like tea and coffee can dramatically increase the body needs for the vitamin. The requirement also increases in line with the amount of protein added to the diet.

For these reasons, conventional medicine is also inclined to recognize the value of supplementation with B6 up to a height of 2 mg per day. Some nutritional therapists recommend doses up to 100 mg per day in terms due to the important role of B6 in the fight against the increased risk of heart disease and stroke in elevated homocysteine levels in the blood.

And indeed, there are no known toxic effects of vitamin B6 is recommended at this level of intake, is in fact the upper safe limit by the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board. As always with the vitamin B complex, however, mean their close interdependence that such doses should be taken only as part of a supplement with the whole complex. And so the vitamins, their work in order to do maximum effect, a comprehensive multi-mineral supplement is also strongly recommended.

Editor Tips

Studies have shown that sport for people in the age group 50 plus is very healthy. As one grows older metabolism slows down, that often leads to fat accumulation, if you do not fit and healthy. Even narrow passages artery leading to high blood pressure and heart disease.

The amount of movement that you perform during the day, one of the key ingredients to help you get a good sleep at night. The more active your body during the day, the more likely you are to relax in the evening and sleep faster.

Breakfast. Many people ignore the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Surprisingly, those who eat breakfast are thinner than those who do not. Metabolism can be slowed down if it is clearly taken from the mid-morning breakfast or if you wait until the afternoon to eat.

Advertisement