This water-soluble nutrient isn’t stored in the body, so people need to get vitamin B6 in their diet everyday. However, one condition could be making that difficult.
Vitamin B6 plays a role in “over 100 enzyme reactions” noted Medical News Today.
Adults are recommended to have 1.3mg of vitamin B6 everyday, with this decreasing from the age of 51.
For men, 51 years old and beyond, they’re required to have 1.7mg of vitamin B6; women in the same age range are best off with 1.5mg of the nutrient.
Great sources of vitamin B6 include: chickpeas, beef liver, yellowfin tuna, roasted chicken breast, a banana and tofu.
Other foods rich in vitamin B6 include: avocados, brown rice, carrots, fish, hazelnuts, milk, pork, potatoes, seeds, soybeans, spinach and whole grains.
Vitamin B6 is part of most foods, so it’ll be hard to be deficient in it unless you have a certain condition.
Hypothyroidism can eventually result in a vitamin B6 deficiency, which can reveal itself with the following symptoms:
Peripheral neuropathy with tingling, numbness, and pain in the hands and feet
- Anemia
- Seizures
- Depression
- Confusion
- Weakened immune system
Moreover, a vitamin B6 deficiency can result in seborrheic dermatitis, inflammation of the tongue, and cheilosis – cracking of the lips.
What’s hypothyroidism?
The Mayo Clinic noted hypothyroidism is also known as an “underactive thyroid”.
This occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones, leading to obesity, infertility and heart disease.
Symptoms of the condition tend to develop slowly over many years, with fatigue and weight gain gradually creeping in.
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Other signs of hypothyroidism include increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, dry skin, a puffy face, and elevated blood cholesterol levels.
Additionally, a person with the condition may experience hoarseness, muscle weakness and muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness.
Thinning hair, irregular menstrual periods, depression and impaired memory may also occur.
This type of condition tends to affect middle-aged and older women, and those who have a family history of thyroid disease.
Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed with a blood test that measures the levels of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).
Medication is usually used to manage the condition and restore adequate hormone levels.
Treatment enables the signs and symptoms of the condition to reverse, and you’ll likely feel much better after taking prescribed medication.
This is a life-long treatment option, with TSH levels checked every year by your doctor.
The medication normally used to treat hypothyroidism is levothyroxine, which can take a while to get the correct dosage for yourself.
Too much of the synthetic hormone can cause increased appetite, insomnia, heart palpitations and shakiness.
At the appropriate dosage, levothyroxine causes virtually no side effects.
If you’re presenting any signs of a vitamin B6 deficiency or hypothyroidism, discuss symptoms with your GP.
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