Vitamin B6, also known as Pyridoxine is famous for curing dandruff and moisturizing hair. Dandruff is caused by dried up sebum clogging up the hair follicles and if the problem gets bad enough hair growth can actually be slowed or halted. Dry or brittle hair can also be the result of being deficient in B6.
If you do have dry hair and dandruff and also are suffering from unexplained illnesses, irritability, dry lips and dry tongue and fatigue it might very well be due to a shortage of Vitamin B6 in your body. This could be because you are somehow not getting enough B5 from your food sources or because your lifestyle habits are preventing your body from absorbing it.
People that tend to be short of this vitamin that is so essential to growing beautiful healthy hair and preventing dandruff might be smokers, alcoholics or doing recreational drugs. Vitamin B6 is easily destroyed in the body if you are on a high protein diet like an Atkins diet or South Beach Diet. If you eat a lot of fat or sugar you could also be giving yourself a case of brittle thin hair and dandruff.
Yet another cause of an inability to absorb B6 that can affect the appearance and condition of your scalp and hair is being on steroids, antidepressants or antibiotics. Stress levels, especially due to disease, can also make it hard for Vitamin B6 to get where it is most needed in the body.
You might also need more of this vitamin if you are taking contraceptive pills or are on any type of hormone replacement therapy. Your body needs some of this vitamin every day but high stress levels, such as the kind of high cortisol level associated with hormonal balances, can cause it to not be absorbed.
Studies have shown that Vitamin B6 is most easily absorbed if it s taken in conjunction with the mineral magnesium. You will find that many B6 supplements on the market already have added magnesium in recognition of this therapeutic factor. Ideally you should look for a hair vitamin supplement that has the magnesium, zinc and other B vitamins as well. Vitamin B2 must also be in the mix if the Vitamin B6 is to be effectively absorbed by the body.
Therapeutic doses of this vitamin tend to be between 50 mg and 200mg if you want beautiful hair and a healthy scalp. However, in reality, your body only needs to actively absorb less than 2 mg of B6 a day. It is best to start out with a supplement that is in lower amounts as everybody’s body is different. Even though it is a water soluble vitamin that is flushed out of our bodies daily it is still possible to overdose on if you take more than 200 mg daily for a long period of time.
The bottom line is that if you want to absorb Vitamin B6 in your body more effectively then you should try to get off any prescription drugs that are unnecessary and immediately quit drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes.
