Vitamin B6 can enhance our energy level and may affect our mood (1). Your body can’t produce this type of vitamin, so you need to get it from your diet. There are several common foods that are rich in vitamin B6, including bananas, pork, peanuts, and more. We include it in Future Proof because it’s needed for so many chemical processes in our body that keep us feeling energized and alert even on our busier days.

The form of vitamin B6 used in our supplement is pyridoxal-5-phosphate. This is the active form of vitamin B6 that your body uses for chemical processes in the brain and body (2). It can help your body process the food you eat and turn it into energy. Vitamin B6 is also an essential compound used by the brain to make enzymes that affect your mood.

Helps regulate chemical production in the body

Enzymes help us in everything from digesting food, to building muscle, to thinking clearly. Vitamin B6 is needed to produce more than 100 different enzymes in your body (3). While this vitamin plays a role in converting food into energy, it also plays a role in brain function.

Low levels of vitamin B6 linked to depression

The emotions we feel are affected by chemical communications in our brain. In past studies, decreased levels of the brain chemical serotonin have been observed in people suffering from depression (4). Vitamin B6 helps regulate serotonin in the body. Because of the role it plays in your brain’s regulation of mood-affecting chemicals, like serotonin and dopamine, plus its general usefulness in helping your body get energy from food, we included vitamin B6 in our supplement.

Age affects your recommended intake

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin B6 varies between men and women depending on their age (5). For adults 19-50, 1.3 milligrams (mg) is recommended. For men 51 years and older, 1.7 mg are recommended. And for women 51 years and older 1.5 milligrams are recommended. We include 1.3 mg in Future Proof, which is 75 percent of your daily dose.

Vitamin B6 is generally considered safe when taken in appropriate doses. In large quantities, it may cause nausea, numbness, or sensitivity to light.

Disclaimer: It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before you take any type of supplement. And if you experience any negative side effects when you are taking one, contact a healthcare expert immediately.

References

1. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) - Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information
2. Pyridoxal phosphate - Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information
3. What has serotonin to do with depression? - Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information
4. What has serotonin to do with depression? - Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information
5. Vitamin B6 Fact Sheet - Retrieved from National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements