Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Growth Substances, Pigments, and Vitamins > Vitamins > Vitamin B Complex > Vitamin B 6 Terms and Definitions

Vitamin B 6

Medical Definition:	VITAMIN B 6 refers to several PICOLINES (especially PYRIDOXINE; PYRIDOXAL; & PYRIDOXAMINE) that are efficiently converted by the body to PYRIDOXAL PHOSPHATE which is a coenzyme for synthesis of amino acids, neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine), sphingolipids, and aminolevulinic acid. During transamination of amino acids, pyridoxal phosphate is transiently converted into PYRIDOXAMINE phosphate. Although pyridoxine and Vitamin B 6 are still frequently used as synonyms, especially by medical researchers, this practice is erroneous and sometimes misleading (EE Snell; Ann NY Acad Sci, vol 585 pg 1, 1990). Most of vitamin B6 is eventually degraded to PYRIDOXIC ACID and excreted in the urine.
Guide Notes:	/ther use: coord with disease /drug ther, not /diet ther
CAS Number:	8059-24-3
Previously Indexed:	Pyridoxine (1965-2001)

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