Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Within hours after they took pepperine, blood levels of selenium and vitamin b6 were higher among pepperine users than nonusers. Although blood levels of these nutrients were increased, they were well within healthy, normal levels. None of the participants experienced any side effects.
Pepperine is sold in combination with other supplements, or in separate capsules.
Possible Benefits
Improves absorption of supplements.
The Right Amount
Take three 5-mg. capsules daily. |
the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing
See book keywords and concepts |
 Experts say eating foods high in vitamin b6 may be a key to beating the blues. Your body needs the nutrient to balance chemicals in your brain that may control whether you're happy or sad. If you are a vegetarian, sweet potatoes and other plant sources high in B6 — like navy beans, spinach, and bananas — are especially important. Most people get their B6 from chicken, liver, and other meats.
Pantry pointers
Some people call sweet potatoes "yams," but they're actually two separate vegetables. The yam belongs to the lily plant family and is found mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean. |
Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 For example, there were several studies suggesting that a deficiency of certain vitamins or minerals, notably vitamin b6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B3 (pantothenic acid), zinc, folic acid, vitamin E, and selenium, can sometimes result in arthritis. Frankly, the evidence was underwhelming. So don't rush to take these supplements. They may help only if, after analyzing your blood, your doctor finds you deficient in them. Unless you are on a fad diet or deliberately starving yourself to lose weight, the likelihood of such a deficiency is not great. |
| Because vitamin b6 is so plentiful, most deficiencies occur in malnourished infants, not in adults. The richest natural sources of B6 are liver, kidney, lean beef, chicken, avocado, potatoes, bananas, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, wheat bran, oatmeal, whole-grain cereals, legumes, sunflower seeds, soybeans, and rice (see page 364 for a more complete listing.) Vegetables and fruits have only small amounts, and there is virtually none in milk and cheese. Seventy-five percent of the B6 in wheat is lost in the process of milling white flour, and as much as 50 percent is leached out in cooking. |
| But if, for some reason, you're averse to taking supplements, the richest natural sources of vitamin b6 are liver, oatmeal, bananas, rice bran, wheat germ, chicken, fish, and sunflower seeds, and there is some in avocados and meat too. (See page 364.) You can obtain lots of B12 in organ meats such as liver as well as fish, shellfish, muscle meats, eggs, and cheese. (See page 389.)
In most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome associated with pregnancy, symptoms appear in the last trimester and usually clear within two weeks after the baby is born. |
Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND
See book keywords and concepts |
 NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
¦ The drugs commonly prescribed for Crohn's disease interfere with normal metabolism and increase the likelihood of multiple nutritional deficiencies^ People with Crohn's disease are often lacking in calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin b6 (pyridoxine), folic acid, vitamins C and D, and zinc. Take a good multivitamin and mineral formula that supplies at least the minimum daily requirement of these important nutrients.
¦ Antioxidant nutrients scavenge free radicals and have been shown to lower the risk of developing Crohn's disease. |
| It has been suggested that a deficiency of vitamin b6 may increase the likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Note: If you take any of the B vitamins individually, you should also take a B-complex supplement at a different time of day.
HERBAL TREATMENT
¦ Bromelain and papain are digestive enzymes that help reduce swelling and inflammation. Take 300 to 500 milligrams of each three times daily, between meals.
¦ Ginkgo biloba acts to improve circulation, especially to the hands, feet, and brain. |
Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| But remember that too much vitamin b6 can cause a nerve disorder, so do not take more than 200 milligrams a day in supplement form.
In summary, controlling the symptoms of PMS is a matter of trial and error. Although there is a great deal of myth, superstition, and even stigma involved, several things are clear. The chocolate you crave really does make you feel better, and I allow my patients to have as much as they need to ease the depression of PMS. |
| In addition, I recommend you eat complex carbohydrates instead of simple sugars whenever possible, follow a low-salt diet, and take extra vitamin b6.
PSORIASIS
WHEN IT SNOWS ON YOUR BLUE SERGE SUIT!
No weatherman can predict the "snowfall" on the shoulders of your blue suit or dress. If it's only a light accumulation, it's probably only dandruff. Heavier precipitation, despite the "best" antidandruff shampoo, may be due to psoriasis. That forecast is all the more likely if you also have some silvery plaques on various parts of your body. |
Arthur C. Upton, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| This type of threshold dose response is exemplified by vitamin B6; a valuable nutrient needed by the body, the vitamin becomes toxic when taken in high doses. Furthermore, it may be that harm does not accrue in a gradual manner but is relatively negligible at lower levels, then skyrockets as the dose is raised above a certain level.
The effects of these assumptions are not just academic. Depending on which assumption we choose about the dose-response relationship, we may come up with an entirely different standard for a safe dose. |
| Not only is scientific proof lacking that these doses are helpful, but vitamin b6 can cause a severe neuropathy and impair the senses of touch, pain, and temperature.
Whether or not you should take vitamin and mineral supplements for protection against neurotoxins is still being studied. It is clear, however, that a balanced, varied, nutritious diet contributes to the optimal health of the nervous system (see Chapter 17, "Food Safety" for further information). |
| Vitamin D in amounts only five times over the recommended daily allowance can result in kidney and cardiovascular damage, especially in children. vitamin b6 can cause reversible neurological symptoms when taken in doses exceeding 2 grams per day.
Many so-called supplements can be dangerous. Bee pollen extract, touted as an energy booster, has been linked to anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening allergic response. Dolomite and bone meal, taken as natural sources of calcium, contain varying levels of lead, which could be particularly dangerous for pregnant and nursing women. |
Neal Barnard, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Western diets are also often low in vitamin E, vitamin b6, folate, magnesium, and zinc.30 The combination of the Western diet, reduced absorption, physical inactivity, and medications can starve your white blood cells for the vitamins and minerals they need.31
Scientists have tested various nutrients to see if a little more zinc, vitamin E, or beta-carotene will affect immune function. To an extent, they do. But a team of researchers in New Jersey stumbled on an interesting lesson. They wanted to test the effects of zinc. |
The Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books
See book keywords and concepts |
 B6 reduces homocysteine levels to normal in most people," he says. Some people may need to take both, he says, and people at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency (older people, strict vegetarians and those with absorption problems) also need to make sure their blood levels of B12 are adequate. Dr. Genest recommends taking 2 micrograms of B12 a day.
The high amounts of folic acid and vitamin b6 that Dt. Genest recom-mends are available only through supplements and, in the case of folic acid, should be taken only under medical supervision. |
Glenn W. Geelhoed, M.D. and Jean Barilla, M.S.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Carpal tunnel syndrome causes a reduction in the rate at which nerve impulses travel, and vitamin b6 therapy seems to speed up the nerve impulses to the hand, reducing the pressure and pain.
If your daily work puts you at risk of developing CTS, take 50 to 100 milligrams of B6 daily. And add some good food sources of this vitamin — whole grain cereals, fish (especially salmon), chicken, liver and egg yolks — to your diet. |
Prevention Magazine
See book keywords and concepts |
 After age 55, it's particularly easy to be deficient in vitamin b6."
Potatoes and bananas are your best bets for bringing in the B6. One potato provides 0.5 milligram, 25 percent of the DV, and a banana has 0.7 milligram, 35 percent of the DV. To get more folate (also a B vitamin), you need to eat greens and beans, particularly pinto and kidney beans. A half-cup of either of these beans provides over 100 milligrams of folate, more than 25 percent of the DV. Spinach is another good source of folate, with 1 cup containing as much as an equal amount of beans. |
| The black variety has more thiamin, while the golden seedless type has a bit more vitamin b6.) The main difference between them is the way they are dried.
• Black, or sun-dried, raisins are actually dried in the sun. This is what gives them their dark, shriveled look. They're used for both baking and snacking.
• Golden seedless raisins are dried by exposing them to the fumes of burning sulfur in a closed chamber, which gives them their golden hue. They're usually used for baking—in fruit cakes, for example—because of their attractive appearance.
Both types of raisins are extremely durable. |
Kathi Keville
See book keywords and concepts |
 Scientists believe that the relief some women find by taking vitamin b6 and progesterone supplements, using relaxation methods and engaging in regular aerobic exercise may be because all these alter the brain chemicals known as endorphins.
In a study of women who suffered from PMS conducted by researchers at Harvard University, symptoms were relieved when the women chanted or prayed for 10 to 20 minutes per day. |
Robert Hass, M.S.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Pyridoxine: See vitamin b6 (pyridoxine).
Radiotherapy: Use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiotherapy may be used externally (external beam) or internally (see Brachy-therapy).
Radical prostatectomy: A surgical procedure used to remove the entire prostate gland and seminal vesicles.
Radiosensitivity: The degree to which a type of cancer responds to radiotherapy.
Receptors: Sites on the outside of cells where particular messenger moltiation of cancerous tissue. The more cells differ in appearance from normal, the more malignant the cancer. |
| Since many B vitamins work in tandem, use a B-complex vitamin supplement. vitamin b6 can be toxic in large doses. Never supplement your diet with a single B vitamin unless advised to do so by a physician.
VANADYL SULFATE
Studies have shown that vanadyl sulfate and bis (maltolato) oxova-nadium (BMOV), a trace mineral, promote sugar metabolism that helps lower blood glucose levels. Vanadyl sulfate and BMOV may activate insulin receptors and reduce the amount of fatty acids carried in the blood (triglycerides). |
| Homocysteine levels rise when you eat a high-protein diet—even when blood levels of B vitamins such as folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin b6 are in the normal range. Phytofoods, such as soy foods and beverages, green leafy vegetables, and fruits, are naturally lower in methionine than animal foods and they contain a healthy supply of B vitamins that keep homocysteine levels in check. (Note to strict vegetarians: vitamin B12 is found only in animal products, fortified food products such as breakfast cereals, and vitamin supplements. |
The Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books
See book keywords and concepts |
| B6 a day, in part because the nutrient is lost in processing, so many people are just not getting enough. "Raw foods are the best sources, because heat destroys it," he says. Foods containing B6 include potatoes, bananas, chicken breast, top round of beef, fish, brown rice and avocados.
Other doctors believe vitamin b6 acts as a diuretic, helping the body to eliminate excess fluid. "During pregnancy, your feet swell, your hands swell, rings don't fit anymore. You're retaining fluid, especially in the wrists," says Dr. Tunell. |
| Good food sources of vitamin b6 include potatoes, bananas, chick-peas, prune juice and chicken breast.
Folate, another B vitamin, is also in low supply when people drink excessively, says Dr. Halsted. Since folic acid is one vitamin that does not significantly alter the taste of any beverage in which it's dissolved, some people have even suggested that manufacturers add folic acid to alcoholic beverages as they are bottled or canned. |
American Medical Publishing
See book keywords and concepts |
| Also, try vitamin b6 supplement. Recent studies show that B6 may be very effective in decreasing chances of allergic reactions. Build up your immune system with a healthy diet, exercise, a low-stress environment and positive attitude.
No. 16 - Zocor — Heavily advertised drug used for lowering blood cholesterol. Among a family of drugs called statins.
Potential dangers — Statins have recently been identified with as many as 31 deaths in the United States, and at least nine deaths overseas. |
The Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books
See book keywords and concepts |
| Folkets believes that people with low levels of coenzyme Q10 aren't getting enough of the vitamins necessaty to convert the amino acid tyrosine to coenzyme Q10- These vitamins include niacin, vitamin b6, vitamin B12, vitamin C and folate.
There are also coenzyme Q10 supplements, available in drugstores and health food stores. Dt. Langsjoen typically prescribes 120 to 360 milligrams of coenzyme Q10 a day, taken in doses of no more than 180 milligrams at a time. (This means that if you are taking more than 180 milligrams a day, you need to divide the dose). |
the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books
See book keywords and concepts |
 Ask your doctor whether a vitamin b6 supplement is appropriate for you.
Try calcium. Researchers at the New York Metropolitan Hospital found that a daily calcium supplement provided relief from premenstrual water retention in three-fourths of the women who took it. "Your best bet is to take a 500-milligram chewable tablet twice daily at breakfast and dinner,"' says Susan Thys-Jacobs, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Ask your doctor whether these supplements might prove helpful in your case. |
The Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books
See book keywords and concepts |
| The Daily Value for magnesium is 400 milligrams; for vitamin b6, it's 2 milligrams. (If you have heatt or kidney problems, be sure to talk to your doctor before taking magnesium supplements.)
"I'm well aware that there is nothing most doctots would call evidence that these nutrients help BPH," he says. "In my own experience, however, men who eat healthy diets and take these supplements have all-around bet-tet health and are less likely to tequite sutgery. |
Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Enzymes involved in the pathway to taurine biosynthesis heavily depend on vitamin b6 as a cofactor. Unfortunately, cats do not synthesize taurine and so must consume it in their diet. The retina contains one of the highest concentrations of taurine in the body. In cats, when the retina has been depleted to about one half its normal taurine content, changes in the photoreceptor cells begin to appear. Further depletion can result in permanent retinal degeneration. |
| As mentioned before, carnitine in the body is synthesized from lysine, and vitamin B6; however, methionine, vitamin C complex, niacin, and iron are also needed.12 Carnitine is a good example of how nature designs nutrients—it requires synergistic interplay among all nutrients in the complex and does not work well as an isolated, synthetic nutrient. A deficiency in any one of the nutrients that make up carnitine will create a carnitine deficiency. The greatest amount of carnitine formation occurs in the liver, although some is also produced in the kidneys and brain. |
Robert W. Hill, Ph.D. and Eduardo Castro, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 B3 (niacin)
20mg vitamin B5 (pantothenate) lOmg vitamin b6 (pyridoxine)
2mg vitamin Bl 2
6mcg vitamin C
60mg vitamin D
400IU vitamin E
15IU vitamin K
50mcg biotin
300mcg folic acid
400mcg calcium chromium
200mcg 1 OOmcg lmg 150mcg copper iodine magnesium manganese molybdenum selenium iron
9mg 80mg 2.5mg zinc
250mcg 1OOmcg 1 5mg
Protein
Peter W. Lemon of Kent State University is perhaps the foremost nutritional researcher of protein requirement, especially in athletes. He notes that the current RDA for protein was calculated for sedentary individuals. |
Email this page to a friend
