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Vitamin B6: What It Is Used For and How It Influences Sleep
July 23, 2024
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is an essential nutrient for our health. Although this vitamin is mainly known for its abilities to strengthen the immune system, protecting us from diseases and supporting brain functions, it actually has a significant impact on the regulation of sleep and mental well-being.
In this article, we will focus on these latter properties and see how vitamin B6 influences sleep and mood, what neurological symptoms may indicate a deficiency, and how it can be supplemented.
What is Vitamin B6 Used For?
A good dosage of vitamin B6 is essential for our body.
But what is this vitamin used for? It is not only involved in the metabolism of amino acids, fatty acids, and sugars, but also contributes to the formation of red and white blood cells. It is essential for both strengthening the immune system and stimulating brain functions, as well as preventing aging. Moreover, B6 also plays a key role in the synthesis of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, appetite, and memory.
Vitamin B6: How It Influences Sleep and Mood
Since vitamin B6 is involved in numerous vital processes of the human body, it brings many benefits to our organism. However, the properties we will focus on here are less known and specifically concern sleep and mental health. From this perspective, some of the most important functions of vitamin B6 include:
Mood Regulation
Vitamin B6 is necessary for the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, which play a primary role in regulating emotions. Additionally, vitamin B6 ensures regular production of homocysteine, thus helping to control psychological issues commonly associated with high levels of this amino acid.
Helps Alleviate Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms
Besides mood regulation, vitamin B6 can also alleviate typical psychological symptoms of the premenstrual period such as anxiety and depression, thereby improving the quality of life for women during the menstrual cycle.
Promotes Brain Health and Prevents Aging
Vitamin B6 is also essential for human brain functions as it helps maintain healthy neurotransmitters, thus preventing neurodegenerative diseases and promoting long-term mental health.
Regulation of Sleep-Wake Rhythm
Another important function of vitamin B6 is the regulation of the sleep-wake rhythm. It is involved in the production of serotonin, which in turn transforms into melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep cycles. Supplementing with vitamin B6 can thus improve sleep quality and facilitate deeper, more restorative night rest.
Positively Influences Dream Activity
Over the years, scientists have conducted several studies on the effect of vitamin B6 on dreams. These studies have shown that taking B6 before sleeping contributes to making dreams more vivid. This, in turn, allows for deeper enjoyment of the REM phase and more rejuvenating night rest.
What Causes Vitamin B6 Deficiency?
There are various causes of vitamin B6 deficiency, generally stemming from specific conditions that impair absorption. The most common ones include:
Malabsorption diseases
Alcohol dependence
Hemodialysis
Prolonged use of certain medications (such as anticonvulsants, the antibiotic isoniazid, hydralazine, corticosteroids, and penicillamine)
Protein-energy malnutrition
Vitamin B6 Deficiency: Neurological Symptoms
In addition to skin problems, inflammations, anemia, or, in severe cases, seizures, vitamin B6 deficiency can also lead to neurological problems.
Common symptoms include numbness and tingling in the hands and feet or a general weakening of the extremities.
Mood swings are also very common among people with low B6 levels. As mentioned earlier, since vitamin B6 plays a key role in serotonin production, a too-low level of this neurotransmitter leads to increased irritability and a higher propensity for depression.
How to Diagnose Vitamin B6 Deficiency
The diagnosis of vitamin B6 deficiency is based on clinical symptoms, the presence of predisposing conditions, and the response to vitamin B6 supplements, as there is no specific blood test that can clearly confirm the diagnosis.
How to Supplement Vitamin B6 with Diet
Being water-soluble, vitamin B6 cannot be accumulated in the body and must be taken daily through specific foods.
But where exactly is vitamin B6 found? Foods rich in this vitamin are mainly of animal origin, both meat (with very high concentrations in the liver) and fish (tuna, salmon, crustaceans, and shrimp), but also wheat seeds, potatoes, legumes (chickpeas and lentils), fruit (bananas), nuts (walnuts, pistachios, almonds, etc.), and green vegetables (green beans, spinach, cauliflower, etc.).
Integrating these foods into our diet is essential for enjoying good physical and mental health. This is because the foods listed above are rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that, with the right intake of vitamin B6, can transform into serotonin, the hormone that plays a key role in regulating mood and sleep.
A proper intake of vitamin B6, therefore, allows us to maintain good serotonin levels. This, in turn, makes us feel happier, calmer, and more focused, and thanks to the way it acts on our brain, it also allows us to correctly regulate the sleep-wake rhythm and sleep better.
What Vitamin B6 Supplement Is For
In cases where our body is unable to properly absorb B6, affecting sleep and mental health, supplements could help alleviate the problem by providing the daily dose of vitamin B6 necessary for a serene life.
As a natural remedy for anxiety and stress, a good choice could be the dietary supplement based on griffonia.
Griffonia is a plant rich in 5-HTP, the precursor of serotonin, and is known for supporting normal emotional balance and helping to better manage anxiety and stress.
If daily anxieties also affect sleep, it is possible to test a combination of day and night supplements to control mood swings during daylight hours and promote continuous and regenerating rest at night.
Remember that supplements should not be considered as substitutes for a healthy and balanced diet. That said, if you wish to obtain the maximum benefit from our products, always remember to integrate naturally vitamin B6-rich foods into your daily diet.