Detailansicht für den Begriff

Name des Begriffes: Vitamin B6

Short introduction

  • Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine is a water-soluble vitamin of the B-complex. It refers to a group of closely related compounds.

Main natural sources

  • Fish (salmon, tuna, sardines), poultry, beef liver, organ meats, lentils, avocados, bananas.

Main function

  • As component of coenzymes (helper enzymes) involved in e.g.: protein, fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism, haemoglobin and amino acid synthesis (production).
  • Essential for leasing glucose from stored glycogen, gluconeogenesis (production of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources) and the production of serotonin (a neurotransmitter: brain chemicals that communicate information throughout brain and body).
  • Involved in immune system functioning, production of hormones and the conversion of tryptophan (amino acid) to the vitamin niacin.

Deficiency disease

  • A deficiency is relatively uncommon and occurs often in association with other vitamins of the B-complex (e.g. B2).
  • Elderly, alcoholics and pregnant and lactating women have an increased risk of vitamin B6 deficiency,

Recommended daily intake

Latest Dietary Reference Intakes  (DRIs)
Institute of Medicine (IOM)

Age categoryPer day
Pregnancy
Lactation		1.9 mg (RDA)
2.0 mg (RDA)
Infants 6 – 12 months0.3 mg (AI)
Children
 1 – 3 years
 4 – 8 years		0.5 mg (RDA)
0.6 mg (RDA)
Males
 9 – 13 years
14 – 18 years
19 – 30 years
31 – 50 years
50 – 70 years
> 70 years		1.0 mg (RDA)
1.3 mg (RDA)
1.3 mg (RDA)
1.3 mg (RDA)
1.7 mg (RDA)
1.7 mg (RDA)
Females
 9 – 13 years
14 – 18 years
19 – 30 years
31 – 50 years
50 – 70 years
> 70 years		1.0 mg (RDA)
1.2 mg (RDA)
1.3 mg (RDA)
1.3 mg (RDA)
1.5 mg (RDA)
1.5 mg (RDA)

 

AI = Adequate Intake.
RDA = Recommended Dietary Allowance.

Synonyme: Pyridoxine, B6

Zurück zur Liste