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| Vitamin B6 is an antioxidant nutrient that helps the body inhibit the formation of damaging free radicals. B6 deficiency can weaken the heart muscle and raise serum cholesterol levels. Supplementing with the more active form (pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, or P5P) may improve the response some individuals experience. P5P B-6 should be obtainable from your Nutritional Doctor or local Health Food Store. It is required by the nervous system for normal brain function, for the synthesis of RNA and DNA, which contain the genetic instructions for the reproduction of all cells and for normal cellular growth. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (P5P) is the active form of vitamin B6. Vitamin B-6 is very important for the metabolism of amino acids - most people should be taking some of this nutrient as a supplement anyway. Directions The RDA for adult females is 1.4 to 1.6mg daily, and for adult males is 1.7 to 2mg daily. Side-Effects Caution: For most people, B6 can cause a nasty stomach ache on a completely empty stomach, so the recommendation is to take it with food, such as juice, fruit, chip, cracker, even a crust of bread. |