Vitamin B6 Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin B6 is a very important vitamin that carries out various chemical reactions in the body. Vitamin B6 benefits include formation of heme that helps carry oxygen in blood. It also helps in the reduction of stress, prevention of dental caries, lowering of cholesterol and plays a major role in functions of the brain. Vitamin B6 is basically a part of the complex group of vitamin B. However, vitamin B6 deficiency can occur due to many reasons. In this article, we shall cover some of the symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency.

Causes
Vitamin B6 deficiency is a very rare case as it is present in most of the foods one eats. There are certain factors that prevent the body to absorb vitamin B6 leading to its deficiency. These factors include:

• Persistent diarrhea
• Starvation
• Genetic disorders
• Drug interaction
• Alcoholism

Other causes include use of contraceptive pills as they disturb tryptophan metabolism and lead to vitamin B6 deficiency. The signs and symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency may differ in individuals. As this deficiency is a very rare one, symptoms are often overlooked. The symptoms include sore mouth, sore tongue and weakness. Other symptoms include low blood count, numbness, tingling in the hands, legs and feet.

Symptoms in Adults
There are number of vitamin B6 symptoms in adults that one may associate with this condition. These symptoms in adults include:

• ADD (attention deficiency)
• Anxiety
• Chronic fatigue
• Cracked skin at the corners of the mouth
• Crying spells,inability to cope
• Depression
• Easy agitation, frustration
• Feeling of uneasiness
• Fibrillation
• Heart arrhythmia
• Heart palpitations
• Insomnia
• Indigestion
• Irritability
• Lack of sex drive
• Nervousness
• Paranoia
• Problems walking
• Rapid weight gain or loss
• Skin rashes
• Restlessness
• Soreness all over
• Suicidal thoughts
• Tingling fingers and toes
• Tingling in hands
• Water retention
• Weakness
• Mental problems

Symptoms in Women
Women who take birth control pills or are heavy drinkers are at a risk of developing symptoms. Others at risk include pregnant or breastfeeding women, those taking medications like isoniazid, hydralazine, penicillamine, etc. and women on high protein diet. The vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms in women include:

• Depression
• Mood swings
• Migraine
• Hair loss
• Irritability
• Anemia
• Loss of appetite
• Dry skin
• Cracks on tongue and lips
• Weakness

Symptoms in Children
It is very important to keep the symptoms in children in check. This is because the deficiency can lead to complete nervous system breakdown and growth problems. The symptoms in children include:

• Anemia
• Seizures
• Diarrhea
• Irritability
• Stunted growth

These are some of the vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms that one may observe in case the vitamin levels dip within the body. One needs to start taking a multivitamin tablet or B-complex tonic under the supervision of a doctor to overcome vitamin B6 deficiency. An infant needs about 0.1 to 0.4 mg of vitamin B6 in its diet. Children within the age group of 1 to 15 years need 1 to 1.5 mg and adults need 2 mg of vitamin B6 in their daily diet.