Vitamin B6 helps the body in various ways. Its primary function is to metabolize food into fuel and then energy. For nootropic benefits, vitamin B6 is the most used vitamin. It’s involved in the production of melatonin, norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine. These neurotransmitters encourage neurons to transmit messages, feeling, thoughts, and memories.
Deficiency of this vitamin in the brain can cause insomnia, fatigue, attention deficit, faster brain degeneration, memory loss, depression, and confusion. The signs of change we’ll notice after supplementing Vitamin B6 include increased energy, quality sleep, enhanced concentration, better memory formation and recall, clarity, and motivation.
Similar to vitamin B12, vitamin B6 also reduces the production of homocysteine. By acting on this substance, B6 reduces the risk of heart diseases, brain atrophy, and certain cognitive disorders. The vitamin can also help pregnant women deal with morning sickness. Pregnant women should consult a doctor before taking B6 for morning sickness.
Vitamin B6 plays a crucial role in several chemical reactions in our body; some of them are closely related to the cardiovascular health. More importantly, this vitamin has even a bigger role in the way our brain functions.
Vitamin B6 and Neurotransmitters: Earlier we discussed how vitamin B6 helps in the production of the five key neurotransmitters. In addition, the vitamin induces our brain and body to efficiently and effectively use these neurotransmitters. Furthermore, B6 acts as a cofactor in the conversion of L-DOPA to Dopamine, 5-HTP to Serotonin, and Tryptophan to Serotonin.
Vitamin B6 and Homocysteine: Homocysteine is an amino acid that’s present in the blood. The chief source of this amino acid is meat. This substance is closely associated with cardiovascular disease. An elevated homocysteine level is bad for the heart because it thickens the blood and damages the walls of our blood vessels, causing clotting which causes heart attacks and strokes.
Homocysteine is equally bad for the brain. It’s believed that the damage to blood vessels reduces cerebral circulation and that can lead to several cognitive problems. According to a study that involved more than 1,000 participants, it was found that those with the high homocysteine levels performed poorly in memory and learning tests.
Vitamin B6 metabolizes homocysteine, and doing so it maintains healthy blood vessels and improves circulation in the brain. The higher the brain circulation, the sharper will be the focus, learning, thinking, and memory. There is plenty of research to support the idea that
| What Vitamin B6 Does |
| Helps efficient conversion of food to fuel and then energy |
| Promotes production of various neurotransmitters |
| Reduces production of homocysteine |
| Vitamin B6 Benefits |
| Increases energy, concentration, motivation, memory formation and recall |
| Prevents brain shrinkage, cognitive decline, diabetes, and heart diseases |
| Fights depression and anxiety |
| Stimulates immune system |
| Fights age-related memory problems |
