Vitamin B6 Toxicity

As with other vitamins there shouldn’t be any problems when taking vitamin B6 from food is in question. However, we have to be careful when taking high doses of vitamin B6 supplements. Of course this is sometimes necessary during the treatment of certain diseases but extreme doses can result in nerve damage. Please note that this kind of damage can be permanent. and you should also speak with a medical consultant if you are taking high doses.

Note: The highest dose a person should have in a day shouldn’t exceed 100 mg/day. In this amount we count vitamin B6 from both food and supplements.

Vitamin B6 Deficiency

Since vitamin B6 can be easily obtained from food if we have a healthy and balanced diet, the occurrence of vitamin B6 deficiency is very rare. Deficiency usually occurs when some medications which affect the absorption of vitamin B6 are taken for treatment. If you are on a protein-rich diet your requirements can be increased but shouldn’t exceed 100 mg/day or you will be at risk of vitamin B6 toxicity.

The symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency are similar to the symptoms of vitamins B2 and B3. People affected with vitamin B6 deficiency generally experience anemia or skin problems (dermatitis, acne), confusion, depression, overall weakness, etc. Vitamin B6 deficiency can affect the immune system at the same time.

Selenium is a great mineral to ingest into the body. Research suggests it helps protect against cancer, promote a healthy immune system and increase fertility in infertile males.

It assists in the removal of feelings of depression, fatigue and anxiety. In one study of people with low levels of selenium, those who consumed a diet high in selenium reported decreased feelings of depression after 5 weeks. ( Harry Croft, MD (Psychiatrist) Medical Director, HealthyPlace.com)

“According to scientists from the Department of Psychology at the University of Wales in Swansea, a deficiency in selenium – an essential trace element found in cereal grains, meat and fish – may be associated with increased anxiety, depression and fatigue. It also acts as an antioxidant and can help the body to fight cancer and heart disease. The current average adult intake of selenium for women and men is thought to be around 43 micrograms (mcg) per day. This compares unfavourably with the government’s recommended daily intake of 75mcg for men and 60mcg per day for women.”(Wynnie Chan Dr, Nutrition: Selenium deficiencies and your mood)

Vitamin C is a cofactor for dopamine beta-hydroxylase (Kaufman S. 1966), which is involved in the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine, and a cofactor for tryptophan-5-hydroxylase required for the conversion of tryptophan to 5-hydroxytryptophan (Cooper JR. 1961) in serotonin production. Vitamin C also has broad-spectrum antioxidant properties and is essential for the mitochondrial metabolism of fats. (Mann. 2000)

A group of patients depressed for 2-5 months had significantly reduced levels of vitamin C as compared to the non-depressed control group. (Singh RB. 1995) Another group of 885 patients in a psychiatric hospital had significantly lower vitamin C levels than controls, reporting 32% had readings below the range in which negative health effects have been clearly documented. (Schorah CJ. 1983) A group of chronic mixed psychiatric patients required a longer time period to achieve vitamin C saturation upon supplementation, suggesting lower vitamin C status. (G Milner. 1963) Another study reported over 10% of 465 psychiatric inpatients had markedly delayed vitamin C saturation indicating some degree of vitamin C insufficiency. (Leitner ZA. 1956)

In addition to reducing depression vitamin D3 enhances cognitive abilities. In one study deficient participants scored worse on mental function tests compared to participants who had higher levels of vitamin D3!

Cancer protection, major hostpitals now provide cancer patients with vitamin D3 pills. The first study related to cancer protection was actually in the 1940s.

in one study over a four year trial women took a calcium/vitamin D3 pill. This group experienced a 60 percent or great reduced risk of cancer than the peers in the placebo who were no consuming these two supplements, both of which are in SERA. The researchers were so astounded by this they threw out the first year and analyzed the last three years and found even more dramatic decrease of cancer a 77% reduction in cancer risk.

B1 known fondly as thiamine was originally found out in Japan and often known as aberic acid given it was useful when you are recovering Beriberi. An endemic disease in the 1800 and 1900′s of Japan due to the processing of their rice. Thiamine helps your body process carbohydrates. Intake is important for regular development an growth. It may have potential benefits in Alzheimer’s disease. When you are looking for Thiamine naturally green pease, spinach, ground beef, liver, chicken and pinto beans are good sources.

B2 commonly known as Riboflavin has some aspects that are the same as thiamine. Ribovlavin is known for metabolizing fats and proteins not to mention carbohydrates. It plays a role in cellular development and boosting the immune system. Some of the best benefits of ribovlavins is the healthy growth of your epidermis and nails. You can find it in milk, yogurt, eggs, some meats, asparagus and cottage cheese.

Niacin, another name for B3 like most B vitamins plays a role in the metabolizing of energy. It also has some great benefits in repairing DNA. Pellagra is the results of poor niacin amounts. The best way to get niacin is chicken, milk, eggs, broccoli, tomato plants, celery or any other leafy green.

Pantothenic acid is the compound that creates up Vitamin B -5. As we’ve discussed in other posts this vitamin has pretty much the exact same properties as the other b vitamins playing a role in the metabolization of carboyhdrates, body fat and proteins. Utilizing energy as best as possible.

B6 is made in three different forms pyridoxal, pyridoxamine and pyridoxine. They plaay roles inside the metabolism of amino acids and glycogen management. B6 also plays a vital role in mood balancing.

Vitamin B7 is labelled oddly as nutritionalH, the category of the compound becoming biotin. This necessary nutritious aids you to synthesize essential fatty acids and metabolise leucine. It performs a significant portion in building up the head of hair and nails as well as supporting to maintain a suitable blood glucose levels degree.

Vitamin B Complex -9 or folic acid as it would be more commonly known is important for producing and maintaining cells in your body. Like any b vitamins folic acid plays a major role in energy and hormone regulation. Folic acid is known as a mood enhancing supplement. If you are not looking for taking a supplement, then make sure you eat plenty of greens.

Vitamin B12 is the ultimate B nutritional. It has the chemical name of cyanocobalamin, and is particularly useful in blocking anemia. This was very first found out when sufferers suffering from anemia obtained therapy with some other food items until eventually liver was found to possess an advantageous effect. B12 plays a major role in helping regulate mood and hormones. It can boost mental wellness and act as a mood enhancing supplement .
Vitamin B12 can also be found in shellfish, eggs, and milk products.

B vitamins, especially B6, play a vital role in maintaining healthy DNA. The health of your DNA is important in the prevention of cancer. While this study is a positive for the future of preventing cancer, it’s important to understand that more studies are needed to see if the positive effects can be replicated. Further, taking doses of vitamins B doesn’t mean smoking is safe for you.
In conclusion, it is still impressive that vitamin B6 can reduce risk by 50%. The higher blood levels mean less likely chance of lung cancer while lower levels of B6 mean a higher chance of getting lung cancer. Despite the studies amazing results until it’s repeated successfully multiple times people shouldn’t assume it is written in stone. Additionally, this study doesn’t mean smokers can continue to smoke using this study as an excuse.

How folic acid helps in a mood enhancing capacity is by reducing homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is a toxic byproduct of SAM-e (S-adenosylmoethione) a chemical that is found in the body and also needed for well being. Increased levels of homocysteine is suspected to cause depression and heart disease. Folic acid is so vital that it is practically mandated that every food item and cereal be fortified with it. By doing this major deficiency is rare but many individuals often need more folic acid. For example it is recommended for pregnant women to increase their folic acid. Alcoholics, elderly, people who have suffered from kidney or renal failure are susceptible to lowered levels. Many people can have lowered levels but it is rare to have complete deficiency from this vitamin.

Deficiency in this vital vitamin is a major contributor to depression and its subsequent symptoms.

In conclusion folic acid helps boost mood and well being by being an active participant in your body’s cleaning program. It reduces byproducts that are suspect at causing depression and impacting heart health. In general the average public can have lowered levels but not majorly deficient due to fortifications in popular foods however alcoholics, elderly and individuals with kidney problems are at risk for lower levels of folic acid.

Three consecutive studies by Maes and colleagues found serum zinc levels were significantly lower in depressed patients as compared to healthy matched controls. (Maes M. 1994, 1997 & 1999) Lower serum zinc was associated with higher past treatment resistance. (Maes M. 1997) In a group of 30 patients with mood disorders, 7/30 had a clear zinc deficiency. (Little KY. 1989) 14 patients with primary affective disorder were found on admission to hospital to have lower plasma zinc levels than 14 controls. (McLoughlin IJ. 1990) Another study reported slightly lower plasma zinc levels in depressed patients, although this did not reach statistical significance. (Narang RL. 1991) Psychiatric manifestations of zinc deficiency include behavioural disturbances, depression and mental confusion. (Mann. 2000) Within major depression populations, lower zinc levels correlate with higher depression severity. (Maes M. 1994)

What is Inositol?
Inositol is a member of the famed B-Complex. It has a wide variety of beneficial effects and side effects to it are extremely rare. Inositol naturally occurs in a variety of foods none that are of high doses though as done in the research articles.

Does Inositol help people with obsessive-compulsive disorder? (OCD)
Researchers have determined that people with OCD are particularly sensitive to serotonin. As when given SSRI’s, a sort of antidepressant, individuals tend to be relieved of their symptoms and when given serotonin agonists their symptoms tend to be enhanced. SSRI’s and serotonin are often at the center point for many mood disorders.

Clinical research on OCD has shown several positive results. One such study gave half of their participant’s inositol, gave them OCD tests and then six weeks later switched and gave the other half inositol. They measured the two groups when they had inositol and when they didn’t. Both groups benefited from taking inositol seeing relief in their symptoms. All of the sub categories of compulsion, anxiety and depression also saw improvement when inositol was administered vs placebo.

Does it help with Depression?
Depression is particularly difficult mood disorder to tackle. Fortunately, Inositol has provided positive relief for individuals with depression. In one study, individuals saw a reduction in their depressive states. Even better no changes occurred to their livers and other organs. Often anti-depressants and other pharmacological solutions often are hard on liver, kidney and other organs over long term.

Inositol can work for Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks are also difficult to maintain as they occur at random times. Many individuals with panic attacks often have issues with depression, alcohol abuse and suicide. Certain medications work up to 70% of the time for short time periods.

When given inositol one group of individuals with panic attacks saw a significant reduction in severity and frequency of their attacks. The average number of attacks these inositol treated individuals had per week went from 10 to 3.5. Researchers have determined this as clinically meaningful for a treatment of panic attacks.

Inositol VS Fluxoxamine
More recently, inositol was compared with the antidepressant fluvoxamine in the treatment of panic disorder.This study represents a more stringent test of the effects of inositol in treating panic disorder because it is the first to compare inositol with an established antidepressant drug. In this study of 20 patients with panic disorder, inositol was found to be slightly but significantly more effective than fluvoxamine in reducing the number of panic attacks. Otherwise, it was comparable to fluvoxamine on all other measures (HAS, phobia, and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale). Since inositol appears to be as effective as fluvoxamine, patients may prefer it and continue to take it for the long term because side effects are extremely rare and mild.
Conclusion

Inositol’s clinical efficacy coupled with the absence of significant side effects suggests that this nutrient may be an attractive addition to treatment plans for patients suffering from panic attacks, clinical depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is an impressive match to SSRI’s but You should not stop taking your SSRI unless you consult a mental health provider. Below is a summary of disorders and problems that inositol has shown to help in research or through first hand reports called anecdotal evidence. Anecdotal evidence will be identified as anecdotal to separate scientific research from first hand accounts.

Indications for Use

Mild to moderate depression
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Panic attacks

Potential Indications for Use
Diabetes
Insomnia (anecdotal and reports to Sera)
Alzheimer’s Disease
Liver Disorders (anecdotal)
Bipolar depression
Retinopathy of prematurity
Bulimia nervosa and binge eating

No Proven Benefit to Date
Depression not responsive to SSRIs
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Synergy with SSRIs
Anergic schizophrenia, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and autism

References
1. Belmaker, R. H. et al. 1995. Manipulation of inositol-linked second messenger systems as a therapeutic strategy in psychiatry. Adv Biochem Psychopharmacol 49: 67-84.
2. Hooper, N. 1997. Glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchored membrane enzymes. Clin Chim Acta 266(1): 3-12.
3. Levine, J. 1997. Controlled trials of inositol in psychiatry. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 7(2): 147-155.
4. Levine, J. et al. 1995. Double-blind, controlled trial of inositol treatment ofdepression. Am J Psychiatry 152(5): 792-794.
5. Benjamin, J. et al. 1995a. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of inositol treatment for panic disorder. Am J Psychiatry 152(7): 1084-1086.
6. Benjamin, J. et al. 1995b. Inositol treatment in psychiatry. Psychopharmacol Bull 31(1): 167-175.
7. Gelber et al. 2001. Effect of inositol on bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Int J Eat Disord. 29(3):345-8.
8. Palatnik, A. et al., 2001. Double-blind, controlled, crossover trial of inositol versus fluvoxamine for the treatment of panic disorder. J Clin Psychopharmacol 21(3): 335-339.
9. Fux, M. et al. 1996. Inositol treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Am J Psychiatry 153(9): 1219-1221.
10. Levine, J. et al. 1999. Combination of inositol and serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of depression. Biol Psychiatry 45(3): 270-273.
11. Chengappa et al. 2000. Inositol as an add-on treatment for bipolar depression. Bipolar Disord. 2(1):47-55.