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Benefits of Pyridoxine
There are many claimed benefits of pyridoxine, including the treatment of premenstrual syndrome, morning sickness, and arthritis. It is also thought that the vitamin may increase serotonin levels, which is why some people think it may be useful for treating depression or ADHD. However, many of these claimed benefits have little or no supporting scientific evidence, especially for people without a vitamin B6 deficiency.
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is clearly beneficial for treating pyridoxine deficiency and problems related to a deficiency. It is also claimed to provide several other health benefits, such as:
- Treating the following conditions:
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy)
- Depression, especially depression associated with pregnancy or use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
- Homocystinuria (a rare genetic condition)
- Arthritis
- Allergies
- Asthma
- High levels of homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia)
- Alzheimer's disease
- Muscle cramps
- Bladder inflammation (cystitis)
- "Pink eye" (conjunctivitis)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Infantile spasms (seizures), especially in children with Down syndrome
- Absence seizures (petit mal seizures)
- Certain types of anemia
- Acne
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Radiation sickness
- Dizziness and/or motion sickness
- Infertility in women (specifically, treating a luteal phase defect)
- Menopause symptoms
- Diabetes
- Lyme disease
- Preventing and treating side effects of isoniazid or penicillamine
- Enhancing immune system functioning
- Preventing migraines
- Preventing cancer
- Helping to reduce water retention (for a diuretic effect)
- Preventing kidney stones
- Enhancing dream recollection.
Many of the claimed pyridoxine benefits have little or no supporting scientific evidence, especially for people without a pyridoxine deficiency (see Does Vitamin B6 Work? for more information).
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD