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Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Chemical Structures
Food Sources
Vitamin B6 in the Body
Stability

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Vitamin B6 Crystals
Vitamin B6 Crystals
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Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine is one of the water soluble B-vitamins. By replacing the -CH2OH group on position 4 of the pyridoxine molecule with -CH2NH2 and -CHO respectively, two related compounds, pyridoxamine and pyridoxal can be formed which are also vitamin active.

Did You Know? The full chemical name of pyridoxine is 2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4,5-bis(hydroxy-methyl)pyridine!

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Chemical Structures

The Chemical Structure of Pyridoxol (Pyridoxine)

Fig.1 The Chemical Structure of Pyridoxol (Pyridoxine)
3D Structure of Pyridoxol


The chemical structure of pyridoxal

Fig.2 The Chemical Structure of Pyridoxal


The chemical structure of pyridoxamine

Fig.3 The Chemical Structure of Pyridoxamine

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Principal Sources in Food

In food, Vitamin B6 is usually bound to protein, pyridoxol being the prominent form in plants, and pyridoxal and pyridoxamine in animal products. Major dietary sources of pyridoxine include:
  • Chicken
  • Liver
  • Yeast Extract
  • Fish, particularly:
    • Tuna
    • Trout
    • Herring
    • Halibut
    • Salmon
  • Nuts
  • Whole grains
  • Very few fruit and vegetables:
    • Beans
    • Cauliflowers
    • Bananas
    • Raisins
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Vitamin B6 in the Body

In the body, pyridoxine is normally stored as pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP), the coenzyme form of the vitamin. It is needed for:
  • Metabolism of amino acids
  • Cellular metabolism of carbohydrate, protein and fat
  • Formation of neurotransmitters
  • Production of nicotinic acid (vitamin B3)
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Stability

Vitamin B6 is quite stable to heat but is sensitive to air, UV light and alkali.

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