Chronic Illness and B6

[Guest guest]

Hey, everyone. Here's an article I came accross on B6... I do not have

judgement one way or another... just passing this on. Apparently, B6 is

the only fat soluble B vitamin. Since some of us malabsorb (I do),

perhaps this information is noteworthy. Amy

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*Why You Must Take Vitamin B6 if You Have Arthritis

*You may know that you need vitamin B6 to ward off depression. But did

you know you need to take vitamin B6 if you have a chronic illness?

While any chronic illness is enough to depress you, there's a more

important reason to take the vitamin.

A recent study found that the inflammation accompanying rheumatoid

arthritis (RA) depletes vitamin B6. The researchers in the study

followed B6 levels in both animals and humans. They found that vitamin

B6 (pyridoxal 5-phosphate) is significantly lower in people and animals

with rheumatoid arthritis. More than 50% lower, in fact.

It's not because the arthritis is causing your body to excrete the

vitamin at a faster rate. It's not. Nor is the deficiency due to a lower

dietary intake. What we think is happening is that your body is using

co-factors of vitamin B6 to meet the increased demands caused by

inflammation in certain tissues. This includes your muscle tissues where

B6 is usually stored.

The study has much wider implications, as I'm sure you can see for

yourself. If inflammation in RA causes a vitamin B6 deficiency, the same

mechanism most likely affects other inflammatory diseases. And the pain

that accompanies them.

I've explained before that inflammation is at the root cause of numerous

chronic illnesses. Insufficient B6 can lead to a weak immune system,

irritability, weakness, and depression.

So, what should you do if you have RA or another inflammatory illness?

Make sure you're getting a lot of B6 in your diet from eggs, fish,

brewer's yeast, beans of all kinds, and walnuts.

Take a multivitamin with 100 mg of B6. Years ago, researchers reported

toxicity in some people who took 200 mg or more of vitamin B6 a day, but

not in anyone who supplemented with the entire vitamin B complex. So,

don't take B6 alone. For more information on inflammation, see my past

articles, available on my website.

http://www.womenshealthletter.com/inthisissue.php?newsletter_id=146 & subheading=s\

ubheading_3 & subtext=subtext_3 & searchText=rheumatoid & newsletter_status=A