Vitamin B6

[davidx]

I am relatively new here but I am looking for some help.

I know this is the vitamin deficiency section but I seem to have the opposite issue with B6. I take no supplements yet my levels are elevated above the normal range.

Does anyone know what kind of doctor I should see that deals with vitamin absorption issues?

Thanks!

-David

[copperhead]

I read the if you test positive for high levels of phosphoserine that means you are not converting pyridoxine into the active form in your liver (or are low in the p-5-p form of b6).

Problems with absorbing b6 are real but only for people, I think, that have had bowel surgery. Otherwise with b6 the problem can be your liver is not converting the common form into the enzymatically active form. I would not use the word absorption to describe your problem. I think the problem could more likely be in your liver with converting one form into another.

I found the pyridoxine form did not work for me a while ago and had to start adding the p-5-p form (with the pyridoxine form). This, I think, can happen to people, for some reason, it doesn't seem to convert this vitamin into the active form at some randon point.

This site explains how some autistic children will have high b6 levels without supplementing any b6. This site may help to better identify the problem you are having.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2004.10.1033

Have you tried the other forms of b6, like p-5-p and pyridoxine ketoglutarate?

[mrsdoubtfyre]

Blood tests for many nutrients are confusing and do not always reveal
important data.

Some nutrients if very LOW ...a test is useful. (ex: potassium, calcium, B12, B6)

Some nutrients show normal (like magnesium) when tissue levels and symptoms show deficiency

Some Nutrients show high (when there is a genetic error preventing utilization), ex: folic acid, B6

Poisoning --very high levels -- can also be accurate for various things.
Potassium, magnesium, calcium, heavy metals, are examples. But these situations are typically dramatic. Elevated potassium is most common and due
to overdosage by doctors treating CHF and diuretic use, or kidney failure.
There is even factitious (false) positives for elevated potassium due to
improper blood draw procedures.

Most nutrient/vitamin decisions can be made on symptoms presenting.

A serum homocysteine test will show if you are not converting B6...high values indicate low B6 utilization with folic acid and B12 as well.

[nopain]

What is "normal" to one person is not normal to another. Ranges are just that. And a single test is not conclusive. But to answer your question (Keeping in mind if one thing is out of whack it can and probably will effect or be effected by something else - like copper and vitamin C for example). You may have nothing wrong with you at all... or you could have other issues. Nice to speculate?

MOST Doctors of the MD variety look at ranges and if you are even close just dismiss findings if the other results of your blood are anywhere near normal.

The kind of Doctor most likely to scrutinize and follow through on Vitamin Issues is ND or Naturopathic Physician. ND's can not prescribe drugs. ND's are currently licensed only in 14 States here in the United States. ND's generally see the body as a "whole".

http://www.naturopathic.org/

I love to Watch House MD because they take an issue and follow it through to completion, in the real world this seldom happens. You get your 15 minutes and you are on your way.

So find an experienced ND if you can... word of mouth through Health Stores, Family, Friends is your best bet. Also you can do your research online.

I am NOT dismissing all MD's, only saying that it's been my experience. MD's are trained in Medical School to diagnose disease by specality (they focus on their one little part of the body and that's it) and receive very little training in the field of nutrition. They cut, they drug. That's what they do. And there is a time and a place for their type of work. But they may not be your best choice.

You can also find a lot of good information on blood tests and ranges online. I am not suggesting you be your own Doctor, but the more you learn the better.

[rose]

I didn't think the situation was good, but I am finding it is common :eek: for doctors to tell patients their lab results are "normal," "fine," or even "very good" even though things are obviously out of whack!

Had my aunt change doctors because the old one wrote her a note that labs were normal. I had her get a copy and THREE things were flagged as high and at least one of the others were at the very top of the "normal" range. These were important things, related things, and things that with knowledge my aunt could do something about!!

Just got lab results from the last testing with her new doc (who unfortunately is also a pill pusher), and the test results he had declared normal and in fact very good were obviously NOT. My aunt's ferritin is 295 (an alarming level), her glycation is at the very top of the range, and her sugar is flagged as high. Her hemoglobin is also flagged as high (up from the top of the range).

I am livid!!!! I'm going to make sure she gets copies of her entire medical record and then have a talk with this doc and the person who recommended him.

I've been helping my aunt address all of this in spite of the doctors' negligence.

This is a common story. I would not have believed it until I saw it in black and white (repeatedly) with more than my aunt.

rose

[~Shanka~]

Please tell me... was it a blood test you took to find out your B6 levels? My daughter's neuro told me that there is no test to see a B6 level. If there is I really need my Asia's level taken. She has Pyridoxine Dependency and is on 1000mg of B6 a day. I need to know if any is absorbing because she still has seizures even though she takes B6. If we give her more her seizures go away. The level is just really high and we are afraid of neuropathy setting in for the high levels.

[copperhead]

I think the best way to know if there is a b6 deficiency is to have a tyrptophan load test. But the load test is not given that often becuase you drink some OJ with tryptophan in it and then wait to pee it out. This test is time consuming, I guess.

I have taken too high of a dose of b6 and would have pain in my check or side of my face. It was like the nerve ending in my mouth would get all excited and cause pain for me. That has been my experience with what people consider to be nerve damage from too much b6. It went away for me. The damage is NOT permenent.

I would not worry about going even higher with that does. Some take as much as 2,000 mg. per day. Of course don't increase the dose too fast or two quickly because that could cause problems like nausea or vomitting. But usually with b6 it can be better not to take the high doses late in the day because it may interfere with sleep.

And the other forms may help like p-5-p and pryidoxine alpha ketoglurate.

[davidx]

Thank you all for the info.

I had a Vitamin B6 blood test done twice. Once about a year ago and one more recently and both were high. I recently went to a nutritionist who said that blood tests are not always accurate and that hair testing is a better method. So I recently sent out a hair sample to be tested.

I think an ND is a good recommendation and that is something I might look into if the nutritionist doesn't help figure things out.

I do not take supplements at all so I have not tried any other forms of B-6.

The reason that I even am exploring this is because I have peripheral neuropathy type symptoms in my legs. When I wear pants and they rub on my skin I sense "pain". Sometimes it is very mild and other times it is severe. However, it never feels normal. I am being treated for lyme disease which may be the root cause but I am also exploring any other possible connections.

Thanks for all the help.

-David

[Malvino]

What can foods high in vitamin B6 do for you?


Support a wide range of activities in your nervous system
Promote proper breakdown of sugars and starches
Help prevent homocysteine build-up in your blood


What events can indicate a need for more high-vitamin B6 foods ?


Fatigue or malaise
Anemia
Skin disorders including eczema and seborrheic dermatitis
Convulsions or seizures

[jcc]

Here is something I found on assessing B6 levels (scan down a bit):
http://www.acnem.org/journal/14-1_july_1995/pyridoxine-vitamin_b6.htm

Here are some more links I found about B6 as it relates to seizures and other symptoms: http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/vitaminb6

A low ALT/AST level can also indirectly suggest a B6 deficiency.. something I came across quite by accident, but it fit for my daughter. She also tested positive for pyroluria (a condition requiring extra B6 and zinc).. and is associated with gluten/casein sensitivities and seizures, too.


Cara