Pyridoxine

Vitamin B6 Blood test is used to measure the Vitamin-B6 levels in the blood.

What is Vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6 is also known as pyridoxine, which is a form of B complex vitamin. It is a water-soluble vitamin and found in many foods such as fish, pork, chicken, milk, cheese, seeds, nuts, bananas, wheat, legumes, and vegetables, etc. It is also available as dietary supplements. The body requires adequate levels of Vitamin B6 for energy production, normal brain development, and a healthy immune system. It also helps to maintain healthy skin and nervous system; therefore, it is advised to take adequate Vitamin B6 rich food or supplements on a regular basis.

Why this test is performed?

This test is performed to determine moderate to severe Vitamin B6 deficiencies. Deficiency of Vitamin B6 in the body may cause skin, blood, and nervous system disorders. Signs and symptoms of Vitamin B6 deficiency are skin rashes, swelling of the skin, cracked and sore lips, sore tongue, mood changes, weakness, depression, sleepiness, extreme tiredness, and weak immune system etc. Vitamin B6 deficiency mainly occurs in individuals who do not include Vitamin B6 rich foods in their diet. Certain disease conditions such as kidney or heart failure, stroke, cirrhosis, peripheral neuropathy (numbness and pain in the hands and feet) depression, seizures, anemia may also show decreased Vitamin B6 blood levels.

This test is one among many tests in the Vitamin B profile. The doctor may ask you to perform this test to screen or detect moderate to severe Vitamin B6 deficiencies. You may also be advised to perform this test if you have a family history of Vitamin B6 deficiency conditions or if you experience any symptoms of Vitamin B6 deficiency conditions.

If you have a family history of Vitamin B6 deficiency conditions, your doctor may ask to perform this test on a 6-monthly basis or a yearly basis. Individuals who are diagnosed with Vitamin B6 deficiency conditions should perform this test on a regular basis as instructed by the doctor.

Precautions:

Inform your healthcare provider about all the medications you take, especially if you are taking cycloserine, isoniazid, hydralazine, pyrazinamide, D-penicillamine before the test. These medicines may interfere with your test results.

If the test result falls in the normal reference range, then you have the adequate levels of Vitamin B6 and hence no medical intervention is necessary.

If the test result falls below the normal reference range, it may indicate moderate to severe Vitamin B6 deficiencies. Deficiency of Vitamin B6 in the body may cause a red, itchy rash called seborrheic dermatitis. Poor nutrition intake or lack of nutrients (malnutrition), or lack of proper absorption of Vitamin B6 through small intestine due to Chrons disease (a disease condition of intestine) may also show low Vitamin B6 blood levels. In individuals with disease conditions such as kidney or heart failure, stroke, cirrhosis, peripheral neuropathy (numbness and pain in the hands and feet), depression, seizures, anemia, asthma may also show decreased Vitamin B6 blood levels.

Individuals with poor appetite and who consume alcohol regularly also may show decreased Vitamin B6 blood levels. Low Vitamin B6 blood levels may also be seen in individuals who receive dialysis or taking water pills or certain medications such as cycloserine, isoniazid, hydralazine, pyrazinamide, D-penicillamine etc. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may have decreased Vitamin B6 blood levels.

If the test result falls above the normal reference range, it may indicate Vitamin B6 toxicity. This is not very common and may occur due to the intake of high doses of Vitamin B6 supplements. Individuals with hypophosphatasia, a rare genetic disorder of abnormal development of bones and teeth may also show high Vitamin B6 levels in the blood. Increased Vitamin B6 levels in the blood may cause neurological disorders and numbness.

If you have higher or lower than normal levels of Vitamin B6 levels in the blood, consult your doctor for further instructions. Based on the test results, your doctor may advise you appropriate medical treatments, lifestyle modifications, or further diagnostic tests.