| Alteration of tissue magnesium levels in rats by dietary vitamin b6 supplementation. Int J Vitamin Nutr Res 1989; 59: 300-303
60. Posaci C, Erten O, Uren A, Acar B. Plasma copper, zinc, and magnesium levels in patients with premenstrual tension syndrome. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1994; 73: 452^155
61. Piesse JW. Nutritional factors in the premenstrual syndrome. Int Clin Nutr Rev 1984; 4: 54-81
62. Facchinetti F, Borella P, Sances G. Oral magnesium successfully relieves premenstrual mood changes. Obstet Gynecol 1991;
78: 177-181
63. Rosenstein DL, Elin RJ, Hosseini JM. |
| Although not effective for all autistic children, vitamin b6 and magnesium, when used in combination, have been shown in a number of studies to greatly help a significant portion.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
THERAPEUTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Serotonin
As stated earlier, patients with autism appear to have a defect in serotonin metabolism. |
Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D.
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 Some individuals (about 2 percent, after long-term high-dosage administration) did experience a feeling of pain or weakness in their limbs, but this condition was quickly controlled by reducing the dosage and administering vitamin b6. A few others experienced nausea, dry skin, dizziness, and drowsiness. Most importantly, in no cases did hydrazine therapy depress or destroy white blood cells or bone marrow, as standard chemotherapy often does. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 Naturopaths suggest getting 40 to 80 milligrams of vitamin b6 twice a day to treat CTS. In one study of people with this condition, two-thirds of those using this amount of Bfi reported improvement.
Foods high in Bg include cauliflower, watercress, spinach, bananas and okra. It would be difficult to get enough Bg to treat CTS solely from food. If you have this condition, you might consider a supplement. The Daily Value is only 2 milligrams, however, and getting too much of this vitamin has been linked to nerve disorders. If you'd like to try this therapy, please discuss it with your doctor. |
| As far as vitamin b6 is concerned, high levels occur in cauliflower, watercress, spinach, bananas, okra, onions, broccoli, squash, kale, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, peas and radishes.
You might also try adding the amino acid phenylalanine to your diet. In one study, more than 75 percent of people with severe depression showed rapid improvement while taking supplements of phenylalanine and vitamin Bg. Since I generally prefer getting nutrients from foods, I'd recommend the four richest food sources—sunflower seeds, black beans, watercress and soybeans. |
| Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) and other foods containing vitamin b6. People who advocate micronutrient supplementation often recommend vitamin Bg for infertility. The best sources of this nutrient, in descending order of potency, are cauliflower, watercress, spinach, garden cress, bananas, okra, onions, broccoli, squash, kale, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, peas and radishes.
VV Ginger (Zingiber officinale). According to reports of research with animals in Saudi Arabia, ginger significantly increased sperm count and motility. |
| In one year-long study, women with PMS took either 175 milligrams a day of chasteberry extract or 200 milligrams a day of vitamin b6, a frequently touted supplement that is said to quell PMS.
Chasteberry proved clearly superior to the Bg.
At least one chasteberry product is approved in Germany for use as a treatment for PMS, menstrual complaints and breast tenderness. You can buy both the herb itself and herbal tinctures in many stores that carry herbal products. V\V Chinese angelica (Angelica sinensis). |
Elson M. Haas, M.D.
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 Biotin supports skin health as it helps our body synthesize fats and proteins, and utilize carbohydrates. vitamin b6, or pyridoxine, is needed for cell division and protein synthesis, both important skin functions. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are vital to skin tissue health; these are found in many oils, such as olive and linseed oils. Cod liver oil is high in vitamins A and D and other nutrients, but it also may concentrate impurities. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the main omega-3 fish oil, also has some nourishing qualities for the skin, besides protecting against cardiovascular disease. |
Mark Stengler, N.D.
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 Vitamin C, vitamin b6, magnesium, zinc, and biotin are among the important nutrients needed for optimum metabolism.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
A few people experience digestive upset and headaches when they take evening primrose oil, especially if they don't take it with meals. These side effects usually go away when the dosage is reduced. (Before reducing the dosage, however, try taking evening primrose oil with meals.)
My biggest concern with EPO is that it needs to be balanced with dosages of omega-3 fatty acids. |
Earl Mindell
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 Let's Talk Tryptophan—and 5-HTP
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that's used by the brain—along with vitamin b6, niacin (or niacinamide), and magnesium—to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that carries messages between the brain and one of the body's biochemical mechanisms of sleep.
Help induce natural sleep. Reduce pain sensitivity. Act as a nondrug antidepressant. Alleviate migraines. Aid in reducing anxiety and tension. Help relieve some symptoms of alcohol-related body-chemistry disorders and aid in control of alcoholism. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
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 Most of the absorbed vitamin b6 is transported via the portal circulation to the liver. In the liver, pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine are metabolized to pyridoxine 5'-phosphate, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate, by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate kinase. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is secreted by the liver and transported by the systemic circulation to the various tissues of the body. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is the primary form of vitamin Be in the circulation and is bound to serum albumin. |
Mark Stengler, N.D.
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| Note: Many nutritional adrenal support formulas contain pantothenic acid in combination with other adrenal support supplements such as vitamin C, ginseng, and adrenal glandular.)
°^ vitamin b6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin Bg has a multitude of uses. It is intricately involved in amino acid metabolism. A deficiency in B6 can lead to weakness, confusion, depression, and skin conditions like eczema. Drugs that can cause a B6 deficiency include birth-control pills and antibiotics. Smoking contributes to B deficiency as well. It has been shown to be effective for alleviating PMS. |
| Overall, 77 percent of the vitex group had improvement compared with improvement of these symptoms in 61 percent of those taking vitamin b6.
As you can see from these studies, natural and nontoxic therapies such as vitex and vitamin B are quite effective. I consider them nature's "PMS busters." I certainly favor their use over conventional therapies for PMS, which include the birth-control pill, diuretics, antidepressants such as Prozac, and tranquilizers such as Xanax.
Vitex works well for PMS if you take the herb by itself, and I consider it essential in any PMS formula. |
Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 Supplements important for healthy, "slippery" blood (follow dosage recommendations for daily vitamins in this book) include magnesium, vitamin b6, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin E, selenium, N-acetyl cysteine, lysine and garlic.
If you have high levels of vitamin C, your risk of dying from a stroke may be half that of those with lower levels. This is according to a major study published in the British Medical Journal that tracked 730 elderly men and women for 20 years. Low levels of vitamin C were a strong predictor of death from stroke. |
Mark Stengler, N.D.
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| Good sources of vitamin b6 are meats, poultry, fish, eggs, walnuts, peanuts, bananas, and whole-grain foods. A therapeutic dosage is 50 to 200 milligrams. (Note: Too much B6 supplementation can lead to nerve toxicity. Symptoms may include tingling and changes in coordination. This may happen with dosages above 200 milligrams. Most reported cases occur in people who have taken dosages of above 500 milligrams for a prolonged period of time.)
°* Folic Acid
Folic acid is important for the brain. It can be helpful for those who suffer from depression and poor memory, especially the elderly. |
Earl Mindell
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| This vitamin works best with vitamin b6, vitamin C, and niacin.
If you're taking an antineoplastic (anticancer) drug such as methotrexate, too much vitamin B2 can cut down the drug's effectiveness.
If you're taking antibiotics, you're probably not getting the B2 you need.
Drinkers need more of this vitamin because alcohol interferes with proper absorption.
31. Vitamin B3 (Niacin, Niacinamide, Nicotinic Acid, Nicotinamide)
Facts:
Water soluble and a member of the B-complex family.
Usually measured in milligrams (mg.). |
Mark Stengler, N.D.
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| Along with magnesium and vitamin b6, calcium supplementation has been shown to help alleviate premenstrual syndrome. It takes one to two cycles of supplementation for significant reductions in PMS symptoms.
Pregnancy
Calcium appears to reduce the risk of pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. It also lowers the risk of a pregnancy-related condition called preeclampsia—higher blood pressure combined with increased water retention and more loss of protein in the urine. |
Earl Mindell
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| Vitamins Bl and B6 are the nutrients of choice (in fact, many prenatal antinausea preparations contain vitamin b6). Taking 50 mg. B complex the night before you leave and the morning of your trip has been found to be effective by many queasy travelers.
Ginger extract capsules taken 3 times daily work also!
238. Muscle Soreness
For that ache-all-over feeling after a workout, or just general muscle soreness, I've seen many people find relief with vitamin E, 400-800 IU taken one to three times daily. A chelated calcium and magnesium tablet in the morning and at night also has helped.
239. |
Dr. Mary Dan Eades
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 The main vitamins that act as coenzymes in these kinds of reactions are biotin, vitamin B12, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin b6, riboflavin, and thiamine.' The oxidation reactions, especially, are important to us because of their role in the aging process. Let's take a moment to look a little deeper into this particular chemical reaction: oxidation.
Oxidation and Reduction
Broken down to our simplest subunits, we are merely a nearly infinite collection of atoms and molecules. |
Mark Stengler, N.D.
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| I have already mentioned the other substances required for synthesis of carnitine, including SAMe, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin b6, niacin, and iron. These are called cofactors, and if any of them are missing, you may have problems assimilating carnitine.
• Strict vegetarianism. Since there's no carnitine in plant foods, supplementation is required.
• Formula-feeding babies. Most infant formulas do not contain carnitine, which is naturally present in breast milk.
• Liver or kidney disease. When the liver or kidneys aren't functioning properly, your body can't produce adequate carnitine. |
Michael Castleman
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 Half also received two daily doses of vitamin A (40,000 international units) vitamin b6 (100 milligrams), vitamin C (2,000 milligrams) and vitamin E (400 international units). Almost two years later, tumors recurred in 80 percent of those given standard therapy but in only 40 percent of those who took the supplements. Average survival time was 19 months in the standard-therapy group and 33 months in the vitamin group.
Breast cancer. Eating foods rich in vitamin A—among them carrots, cantaloupe and spinach—reduces risk of breast cancer, according to Harvard researchers. |
Dr. Mary Dan Eades
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| Your irritated intestinal lining may also not be able to absorb vitamin b6 (pyridoxine) to a normal degree. The emotional depression that many people with sprue develop will sometimes respond to supplementation of this vitamin. Recommendation: Take 50 to 80 mg of pyridoxine daily for 6 months. Warning: Take care increasing your dose beyond this point. There have been reports in the medical literature of nerve inflammation and damage occurring on doses of as little as 200 mg per day over a several-year period. |
Earl Mindell
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| Carpal tunnel syndrome and hormonal imbalance may be symptoms of a vitamin b6 deficiency.
• The antioxidant ^-acetylcysteine (NAC) may work better than vitamin C to ease flu symptoms.
• Magnesium is a muscle relaxant and nature's equivalent to calcium channel blocker drugs.
• New studies show that men who drink more than four glasses of water daily can lower their risk of colon cancer by 32 percent.
16. Any Questions About Chapter I?
I've seen quite a few amino acid supplements in health food stores. Are these considered nutrients? Are they as important as vitamins? |
Michael Castleman
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| In addition to standard chemotherapy, Finnish researchers gave people with lung cancer a daily supplement containing vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin b6, vitamin B12, niacinamide, vitamin D, vitamin C, calcium, manganese, magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium, chromium and potassium. Nutritional therapy significantly reduced the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, and compared with those who took no supplements, those who did survived significantly longer. |
| Some were also given a daily supplement containing thiamin (100 milligrams), vitamin b6 (100 milligrams) and vitamin B12 (0.5 milligram). After just seven days, those in the supplement group reported significantly less pain.
Autism. For 30 weeks, researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham gave a daily vitamin C supplement (1,000 milligrams per 20 pounds of body weight) to 18 children with autism. Compared with untreated children, the vitamin-takers exhibited significantly less autistic pacing, rocking and spinning.
Bladder cancer. |
| Under the direction of Dutch researchers, 38 healthy men in their seventies took daily vitamin b6 supplements (20 milligrams) for three months. Compared with untreated men, those who took the vitamin showed improved long-term memory.
Menstrual discomfort. Ten women with normal menstrual cycles had their menstrual symptoms evaluated by research psychologists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota. |
Rebecca Wood
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 Higher in calories than potatoes, it is an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, and iron and a good source of thiamin and vitamin b6.
Use Use the sweet cassava as a potato or sweet potato; but plan to use it immediately as it spoils rapidly. When peeled and cooked, its softly fibrous flesh becomes mildly sweet, buttery, chewy, and almost translucent. Remove its central, fibrous cord either before or after cooking. Some people love the tapiocalike texture of cassava; for others it's an acquired taste. Cassava absorbs the liquid in a soup, stew, or casserole. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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 B6 (p. 340) should be taken along with EPO.
Fiber
Fiber is divided into two general categories—water soluble and water insoluble. Soluble fiber lowers cholesterol (p. 79).1 For unknown reasons, however, diets higher in insoluble fiber appear to correlate better with protection against heart disease (p. 37).2
Soluble fibers can also lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes (p. 53), and some researchers find that increasing fiber decreases the body's need for insulin—a good sign for diabetics. |
| B6 (p. 340), and vitamin Bu (p. 337), can increase the conversion of methionine to homocysteine—a substance linked to heart disease (p. 32) and stroke. However, whether this relationship creates a significant hazard for humans taking supplemental methionine has not been established. Supplementation of up to 2 grams methionine daily for long periods of time has not produced any serious side effects."
Molybdenum
Molybdenum is an essential trace mineral. It is needed for the proper function of certain enzyme-dependent processes, including the metabolism of iron (p. 304). |
| B6 (p.340)—has been reported to provide some people with relief.11 Thiamine (Bj) deficiency specifically has been linked to an increased risk.12 The right supplemental level of iron requires diagnosis of an iron deficiency by a health-care professional using lab tests.
Some people with recurrent mouth ulcers have been reported to respond to lactobacillus acidophilus (p. 325)13 and lactobacillus bulgaricus.14 Chewing four lactobacillus tablets 3 times per day may reduce soreness in some people with recurrent mouth ulcers.15 Are There Any Side Effects or Interactions? |
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