Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine is active in so many of the body’s enzyme reactions that affect the blood’s oxygen supply, conversions from niacin to tryptophan and many others. If the body has sufficient Pyridoxine, some other vitamins are able to be produced naturally in the body, thus lowering the need to take supplements.

The greatest percentage of this vitamin is stored in the muscles, but can also be found in the brain, liver and spleen and can help your body in so many ways. It can repair tissue and muscle damage, protect and repair nerve endings, promote oxygen flow in the blood, it keeps your skin, nervous system and brain healthy.

Pyridoxine is frequently recommended for premenstrual women and those who have recently had a baby. Women’s hormones tend to change constantly and these levels are made worse during pregnancy and birth lowering their sex drive. Pyridoxine helps to regulate these hormonal imbalances.

Foods that contain pyridoxine are plentiful but if you are looking to increase your daily intake then choose from an animal source, as the plant sources are bound to protein which make them less effective. Some of the foods are nuts, whole grains, fruit and vegetables like prunes, bananas and potatoes, and meats like salmon.

The need for pyridoxine increases as your protein intake increases so you should take extra when you are on a high protein diet or if you drink a lot of alcohol. Deficiency is uncommon but certain signs like irritability, restlessness, anxiety, dry skin, cracked lips and stress could indicate lack of pyridoxine, possibly due to medication.