This vitamin may also be called
pyridoxal phosphate or pyridoxamine. This vitamin plays an important role in the
breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, but also is required in the
production of red blood cells and amino acid metabolism.
It is rare to have a deficiency in this
vitamin, but when it does occur skin disorders similar to that of deficiencies
in riboflavin and niacin occur. Some people believe that high does of pyridoxine
are a remedy for pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), but there is no proof at the
moment for such claims.
This vitamin is found in most foods, and thus this is why deficiencies are rare. Food sources with high levels of this vitamin are liver, organ meats, brown rice, fish, butter and wheat grain.
