Pyridoxine (Pyridoxal, Vitamin B6)

Biological role

Pyridoxine is well soluble in water, alcohol, and slightly in ether and chloroform.

Vitamin B6

- Vitamin B6 is fairly stable vitamin. In highly acidic and alkaline solution vitamin B6 does not
lose biological characteristics even when heated. However, under the influence of light, as well
as the oxidation, this vitamin is rapidly degraded.

- Pyridoxal phosphate is the prosthetic group of a number of enzymes involved in amino acid
metabolism, metabolism of fats and carbohydrates.

- Vitamin B6 is absorbed in the small intestine usually in the form of pyridoxal, which is then
converted into pyridoxamine.

- The important role of this vitamin can be seen in its role in the proliferation of cells and the
creation of white blood cells and immune system cells.

Sources

- Vitamin B6 is found in seeds, grains, wheat and corn flour, sesame, aronia, brewer's yeast,
liver, kidney, muscle, and to some extent in milk, eggs and green leafy vegetables.

- Microorganisms in the human intestines synthesize from 0.5 to 0.7 milligrams of vitamin B6
daily.

- Large amounts of vitamin B6 is found in the liver, rather than muscle, kidney, brain and other
tissues.
- Storing food in tin cans, baking or cooking meat, alcohol, etc. can destroy the vitamin.
The content of vitamin B6 in some food products

The content of vitamin B6

Food product
(micrograms per 100 grams of food product)
Bananas 400
Fish 350
Meat - beef 350
Meat - pork 220
Peas 150
Rice (unpolished) 150
Egg 120
Cheese 90
Cornflour 50
Bread 40
Milk 40

Deficiency
- Vitamin B6 deficiency can cause anemia, nervous disorders and various skin problems.
- Some evidence that the failure of kidney inhibits pyridoxal kinase deficiency of coenzyme
pyridoxal phosphate occurs, despite sufficient quantities of vitamin B6 are intaken.
- The most important role of vitamin B6 is its role in the immune system. In fact, this vitamin is
the most important vitamin of B-group vitamins for development of the immune system.

Overdose (intoxication)
- Daily requirement of vitamin B6 for an adult man is 1-2 milligrams, and large quantities can
cause toxic nerve damage.

- Vitamin B6 can be toxic if it intake in high doses and then can cause serious neurological
disorders. This has been observed in people who consume more than 2 grams of vitamin a day.
- Symptoms, which can occur with increased intake of this vitamin are: unsteady gait, stiffness
in the feet followed by the cumbrous hands and nighttime restlessness.
Nicotinic acid (niacin, vitamin B3)

Biological role

Nicotinic acid and its amide are thermally stable even when heated and not lose vitamin
properties.

Niacin

- Nicotinic acid is quite stable. Moderate losses of up to 15% are observed in blanching of
vegetables. The loss is 25–30% in the first days of ripening of meat.

- Nicotinic acid (niacin) is a vitamin that is produced in the body from its precursor - the essential
amino acid - tryptophan. This production of nicotinic acid occurs in plants and in animals.
- Nicotinic acid is absorbed in the small intestine in the form of nicotinate.
- An important role of this vitamin is to lower cholesterol levels in the blood, and protection of
various cardiovascular diseases.

Sources

- Human meets the needs of nicotinic acid by intaking of high-protein food that contains
tryptophan (such as lean meat, liver, fish, brewer's yeast, kidney, white poultry meat), but also
substances that contain nicotinic acid alone (such as unrefined grains and cereals, yeast, milk,
roasted peanuts, leafy vegetables).

- This vitamin is found in large quantities in the same product, as those which has a lot
of vitamin B2 and vitamin B6 (yeast, rice, husk rice, avocados, figs, prunes, etc.).
The content of niacin in some food products

The content of niacin

Food product
(micrograms per 1 gram of food)
Liver 2500
Wheat bran 300
Meat 45
Fish 30
Bread 29
Potato 14
Polished rice 6
Carrots 3
Milk 1

Deficiency
Vitamin deficiency is observed initially by a drop in concentration of NAD+ and NADP+ in liver
and muscle, while levels remain normal in blood, heart and kidney. The classical deficiency
disease is pellagra, which affects the skin, digestion and the nervous system (diarrhea and
dementia)
Overdose (intoxication)
- Adult's daily needs for this vitamin are estimated from 15 to 20 milligrams, while children up to
ten years from 5 to 6 milligrams a day. In children over 10 years of recommended amount of
niacin is estimated from 9 to 13 milligrams a day.

- If nicotinic acid is intaked in large doses, the niacin flush occur. This is followed by redness,
itching, flushing, tingling most often on the face, arms and upper chest. Also gastrointestinal
disorders occur. This is happening because of the ability of nicotinic acid to widen blood
vessels. All of these disorders in most people are not fatal, but in some people it can cause a
nasty headache, diarrhea, cramps, nausea.

Janos Zempleni, John W. Suttie, Jesse F. Gregory III, Patrick J. Stover (2013) Handbook of
Vitamins. 605 Pages - 89 B/W Illustrations. ISBN 9781466515567 - CAT# K15043