DIETS AND ASTHMA: VITAMIN B6 (PYRIDOXINE)
Posted: June 4th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Asthma | Comments OffProbably the most important supplement for the prevention of heart disease, pyridoxine is now seen as one of the main factors in the prevention of cardiovascular disease because of its role in the breakdown of homocysteine, a chemical derived from dietary methionine, which is known to cause vascular damage that can lead to the formation of clots and hardening, as well as narrowing of blood vessels. This vitamin is also a natural tranquilliser and, in conjunction with zinc and magnesium, is helpful in reducing premenstrual symptoms and fluid retention. It is very valuable in the treatment of asthma. High doses of this vitamin have been reported to cause reversible neurological problems in a few people. Side EffectsUnless it is specifically prescribed in higher amounts by your doctor, you should limit your daily supplemental intake to 500 milligrams or less.While vitamin B6 can be used in conjunction with vitamin C as an antidepressant, if the depression is associated with vivid dreams and nightmares, additional pyridoxine could make the depression worse.Lactating mothers should note that large amounts of vitamin B6 can interfere with breast milk secretion and therefore they should not take more than 100 milligrams of this vitamin per day as a supplement.There have been several reports of neurological side effects with very large doses of vitamin B6, in particular the loss of peripheral nerve sensations similar to those experienced by sufferers of multiple sclerosis. Most of the cases reported in the literature involved daily doses of 2000-10 000 milligrams, taken regularly for several years, but a few reports have appeared of similar effects at 500 milligrams per day over two years.If you are taking medications containing L-Dopa (anti-Parkinson’s disease), phenytoin (such as Dilantin) or phenobarbital (anticonvulsants), you should avoid formulas with this vitamin as it interferes with such medications, rendering them less useful.On the other hand, some medications increase the need to take vitamin B6 in supplement form. The most common are birth control pills, Cycloserine (an antibiotic), Hydralazine (to lower blood presure), Isoniazid (used to treat tuberculosis) and Penicillamine. This last is not a type of penicillin, as its name may suggest, but a drug used to treat rheumatoid disease, some rare genetic disorders and toxic chemical overload.*46\145\2*
