Vitamin B6

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Vitamin B6 benefit

Vitamin B6

Definition:

Vitamin B-6 is a water-soluble vitamin and is part of the vitamin B complex.

Alternative Names:

Pyridoxine; Deficiency - vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine)

Function:

Vitamin B-6 plays a role in the synthesis of antibodies by the immune system. Antibodies are needed to fight many diseases. Vitamin B-6 helps maintain normal nerve function and also acts in the formation of red blood cells. It is also required for the chemical reactions needed to digest proteins. The higher the protein intake, the more the need for vitamin B-6.

Review Date: 10/27/2004
Reviewed By: Kevin Pho, M.D., Attending, Internal Medicine, Boston VA Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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