Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin that your body needs for several functions. Consuming adequate amounts of vitamin B6 is important for optimal health and may even prevent and treat chronic diseases.​

Vitamin B6 Treats Inflammation

Inflammation is part of the body’s defense mechanism and plays a role in the healing process. Inflammation can cause pain of varying types and severity. Pain may be constant and steady, throbbing and pulsating, stabbing, or pinching. Pain results when the buildup of fluid leads to swelling, and the swollen tissues push against sensitive nerve endings.

Other biochemical processes also occur during inflammation. They affect how nerves behave, and this can contribute to pain. Low levels of vitamin B6 may lead to high levels of inflammation in the body or exacerbate the pain caused by inflammation.

 

B6 Promotes Immune Function

Patients with autoimmune disorders often suffer from lower immune defense. Sometimes this is caused by their medication and treatment, other its simply a symptom of their disorder. 

Vitamin B6 helps chemical reactions in the immune system, helping it work better. Eating foods rich in vitamin B6 will help your body guard against infection. Studies conducted with older adults have linked low levels of vitamin B6 with poor immune response.

 

Proven to Treat Anxiety & Depression 

It's not a secret that many autoimmune patients develop some sort of mental problem. It can be caused by chronic pain or flare ups that lowers mood in many. ​

The body makes the hormones serotonin (which regulates mood) and norepinephrine (which helps your body cope with stress). However, your body needs vitamin B6 to make serotonin, a hormone that elevates your mood. Some studies have shown that not having enough vitamin B6 in your diet can contribute to depression. 

Vitamin B6 may also play a role in decreasing high blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which have been linked to depression and other psychiatric issues.

Vitamin B6 Improves Circulation

Because blood circulates white blood cells for healing and platelets for clotting, cuts and sores may take longer to heal, increasing the likelihood of infection. Autoimmune patients often suffer from wounds, like acne scarring, or slow-healing.

Vitamin B6 is involved in the production of hemoglobin, the protein in blood that carries oxygen throughout the body. It’s significant to protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism and the creation of red blood cells and neurotransmitters.

Prevents cancer and other chronic diseases

Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's immune system, designed to only attack defective or foreign cells, attacks healthy cells. Like cancer, autoimmune disease usually starts in a single organ or body part. 

Research shows that autoimmune patients have a significantly higher risk of developing cancer such as lymphoma.

Research on vitamin B6 and breast cancer shows an association between adequate blood levels of B6 and a decreased risk of the disease. 

Other benefits of Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is also needed for proper brain development (in kids) and function (for people of all ages). Vitamin B6 also helps the body make melatonin, which is important in helping regulate your internal clock and your sleep.

Vitamin B6 may prevent clogged arteries and minimize heart disease risk. Research shows that people with low blood levels of vitamin B6 have almost double the risk of getting heart disease compared to those with higher B6 levels.

Plus a growing body of research suggests that getting adequate B6 is important for aging brains, too. Not getting enough vitamin B6 can lead to low hemoglobin and anemia, so supplementing with this vitamin may prevent or treat these issues.

Studies suggest that the combination of vitamin B6, B12, and folate may play a role in slowing cognitive decline and age-related memory loss, which is reason to suspect that the vitamins may help decrease risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and memory loss.

Good Sources of Vitamin B6

Your body cannot produce vitamin B6, so you must obtain it from foods or supplements. ​

You can get your daily nutritional intake of Vitamin B6 through food. Of course, some foods have a higher concentration of Vitamin B6 than others. There are superfoods that contain adequate amounts of this much-needed nutrient. 

Turmeric, an important curry spice rich in vitamin B6, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to alleviate pain and aid digestion. But it's also popular among scientists because of its anti-inflammatory qualities, thanks to a component called curcumin. 

Curcumin, the major active component in turmeric, can protect the body against tissue damage and joint inflammation while also preserving excellent nerve cell activity. It has been discovered to have potent anti-inflammatory properties as well as being a powerful antioxidant. It has similar efficacy to other anti-inflammatory medications but without the negative side effects. It accomplishes this by inhibiting a substance that travels to the nucleus of cells and activates genes associated to cancer.

Moringa's vitamin B6 levels are at the forefront of medical study, and researchers have barely scratched the surface of what it may do for your health. Flavonoids, polyphenols, and ascorbic acid are antioxidants that combat free radicals, which cause inflammation, cell damage, and oxidative stress.
Moringa benefits digestive health, combats diabetes, regulates hormones, slows aging, protects and nourishes the skin, helps to calm mood, and protects brain health.

Aside from being rich in Vitamin B6, superfoods like turmeric, moringa, and kefir also are bursting with antioxidants to help with autoimmune disorders. Many specialists have turned to whole foods or whole food supplements to deliver the dietary nutrient needs of each patient.

For people who don’t have access to foods with a high concentration or have a difficult time absorbing nutrients from food, they can use supplements to get a good amount of vitamin B6.  Vitamin B6 is available in multivitamins, in supplements containing other B complex vitamins, and as a stand-alone supplement, or superfood supplement. If you are looking for a quality source of Vitamin B6 that can relieve inflammation instantly, you can find our more down below: