Your diet can tell stories that could potentially surprise you. Food consumption and exercise need to be ritualistically curated to ensure a healthy life. Vitamin B6 is an element that can affect much of your daily activities. Read on to find out if you have any of the following symptoms. They could testify to the deficiency of Vitamin B6. If you have these symptoms, it may be time you reorganize your diet to incorporate this vitamin for a healthy life.
What is Vitamin B6?
One of the B vitamins, Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient also known as pyridoxine. It is water-soluble and found in many foods naturally. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, Vitamin B6 contains the Pyridoxal 5’ phosphate or PLP coenzyme that breaks down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Additionally, this helps to maintain optimal levels of homocysteine as abnormal levels of this compound can create heart ailments. Improvement of the immune system and brain health is also facilitated by Vitamin B6.
Benefits of Vitamin B6
You would not be aware of this but Vitamin B6 can fight many diseases. This nutrient can treat pregnancy-induced nausea and even cancers. The differentiating levels of Vitamin B6 can even affect your moods, sleep and appetite.
Vitamin B6 is responsible for fighting infections, the conversion of food into energy and the transmission of oxygen to various body parts. This compound need not necessarily fall without reason in your body. However, you are running high risks of a threatening deficiency.
Signs that you are Vitamin B6 deficient
People who have kidney and digestive diseases, like obesity and autoimmune issues, are likely to be heavily deficient in this nutrient, according to the National Institutes of Health. Vitamin B6 has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties too.
Read through the following signs to find out if you are unknowingly fighting the deficit of Vitamin B6.
Rashes
If you are suffering from itchy rashes (seborrheic dermatitis) on your neck, chest, face and scalp, you should start taking care of yourself. These itches may lead to swelling and white patches. If you have less Vitamin B6, the synthesis of collagen can be dysfunctional, causing such rashes.
Sore Lips and Tongue
Cheilosis or swollen/sore lips and glossitis or tongue swelling are symptoms of Vitamin B6 deficiency. Cracked corners of your lips can bleed out, making consumption of food difficult. Bumps that may appear on your tongue can be caused due to the loss of papillae. These can be symptomatic of the deficiency of this nutrient.
Mood Swings
Your moods could be affected by fluctuating levels of Vitamin B6. Anxiety, depression and feelings of pain can be symptoms of this problem, as stated in this study. Consuming 60-80 mg of B6 supplements can help combat premenstrual syndrome or PMS also.
Fragile Immunity
Immunity is the balance of your life. If you often break out into diseases and/or inflammatory infections, you need to check the levels of Vitamin B6 in your body. Falling levels of B6 can interfere with the production of white blood cells that are vital for your immune system.
Fatigue
Feeling tired and sluggish constantly can be a symptom. Vitamin B6 helps to make haemoglobin, the lack of which can cause anaemia, leading to tiredness. The PLP coenzyme in your body can resolve such anaemia-induced issues.
Seizures
Seizures are usually induced due to the overstimulation of your brain. Inadequate levels of B6 can mess up the amounts of calming neurotransmitter GABA in your brain. Muscle spasms, jerky limbs and rolling eyes are symptomatic of chronic seizures. The research conducted by Dong-Gun Lee et. al. notes how alcoholism, pregnancy and liver conditions can induce seizures due to Vitamin B6 deficiency.
Conclusion
In addition to these symptoms, constant pain in the limbs can account for the deficiency of Vitamin B6 in your body. This nutrient can be found in many animal and plant foods. Fortified products like breakfast cereals are also abodes of B6.
Consuming pyridoxine as supplements can also help your bodily functions. These supplements are extremely important because your body cannot naturally produce this nutrient. Supplements like these Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules can combat issues like the decrease in serotonin levels and improve your appetite.
Time to rethink your diet, maybe?