Vitamin Spotlight: How Vitamin B6 Affects the Body & Pregnancy
September 26, 2015
Vitamin B6 is a necessary nutrient everyone needs on a daily basis. It is found in many of the foods we normally eat, and it is crucial for our bodies to function well. Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin, which means it dissolves in water. Our bodies do not store excess amounts of water-soluble vitamins and they typically leave our systems quickly. Vitamin B6 must be ingested or supplemented daily for our bodies to get the right amount that we need.
How Much Vitamin B6 Do I Need?
The U.S. National Institutes of Health recommends different daily amounts of vitamin B6 depending on a person’s age and gender or if a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding.1 Expecting mothers need an increase of vitamin B6 in their diets to support themselves and their babies’ growing bodies. During pregnancy women should increase their vitamin B6 intake to 1.9 mg a day up to 1.0 mg during lactation.2
What are the Benefits of Vitamin B6?
Vitamin B6 responsible for making antibodies, which aid our bodies in fighting diseases.1 It also helps maintain normal nerve function. Vitamin B6 makes hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in our red blood cells to our tissues. As a result, a vitamin B6 deficiency can lead to anemia. The vitamin is also crucial in breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates for our body to use. Therefore, the more proteins, fats, and carbohydrates your body takes in, the more vitamin B6 you need. Vitamin B6 is also helpful in keeping glucose or blood sugar levels in normal ranges.
For women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, vitamin B6 is necessary to keep their bodies healthy and is crucial in a baby’s brain and nervous system development.2 Vitamin B6 when combined with other important nutrients (such as Ginger) may help to ease some of the symptoms related to common morning sickness.
How Do I Ensure I Am Getting Enough Vitamin B6?
Vitamin B6 is found in many different kinds of foods. Beans, lean meats, nuts and fish are good sources of vitamin B6.1 There are also many different breads and cereals that are fortified with B6. With fortified foods, specific vitamins and minerals are added to them. It can be especially difficult for pregnant women to retain sufficient Vitamin B6 levels that their bodies need. This is why nutritional supplementation with prenatal vitamins that contain Vitamin B6 is so important.
Prenatal Vitamins with Vitamin B6
A good way to ensure that you (and your baby) get the sufficient amount of Vitamin B6 is by asking your healthcare provider which of the Prenate® Vitamin Family of products may be right for you. Prenate® Vitamin Family products have been formulated to meet the nutritional needs of women in during the prior to conception, throughout their pregnancy and post-partum period for both lactating and non-lactating mothers. Talk to your healthcare provider about which Prenate® Vitamin Family product may be best for you and your baby. Click here to learn more about Avion’s Prenate® Vitamin Family products that all contain Vitamin B6 and where you may download special savings coupons.
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