Vitamin B6 in Health and Disease

Nutrients. 2021 Sep 17;13(9):3229. doi: 10.3390/nu13093229.

Abstract

Vitamin B6 is a fascinating molecule involved in the vast majority of changes in the human body because it is a coenzyme involved in over 150 biochemical reactions. It is active in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids, and participates in cellular signaling. It is an antioxidant and a compound with the ability to lower the advanced glycation end products (AGE) level. In this review, we briefly summarize its involvement in biochemical pathways and consider whether its deficiency may be associated with various diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or the prognosis of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; cancer; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; immune system; pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP); vitamin B6.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus / blood
  • Heart Diseases / blood
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / blood
  • Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Signal Transduction
  • Vitamin B 6 / blood*
  • Vitamin B 6 Deficiency / complications*

Substances

  • Vitamin B 6