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High intake of vitamin B6 is linked to vitreous detachment

pattismith

Senior Member
Messages
3,930
I suddenly experienced posterior vitreous detachment for some weeks/months ( floaters) and I took high dose of B6, and I am premonopausal myopic woman, so I do some quick researches and found it....I match perfectly with all the risk factors...

Risk factors for posterior vitreous detachment: a case-control study.


Abstract
PURPOSE:

To identify possible risk factors for the development of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).

DESIGN:
Retrospective case-control study.

METHODS:
A total of 138 cases with PVD and 114 age-matched controls were accrued from two different sites. Demographic, medical, ocular, and lifestyle data were obtained through chart review, questionnaires, and clinical examination. A 108-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was also used to estimate macro- and micronutrient intake. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were employed to identify variables significantly associated with the main outcome measure of PVD. Subgroup analysis of gender-specific variables was performed.

RESULTS:
Among all patients, multivariate regression analysis demonstrated female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 2.01, P = .016), myopic refraction (OR = 4.32, P < .0005), and higher intake of vitamin B6 (OR = 2.61, P = .001) to be associated with PVD after controlling for age.

In the subgroup analysis of women, menopause
(OR = 18.2, P < .0005), myopic refraction (OR = 3.42, P = .01), and higher intake of vitamin B6 (OR = 3.92, P = .005) were associated with PVD. Specifically, there was a significant association between vitamin B6 and PVD amongst premenopausal women but not amongst postmenopausal women.

CONCLUSIONS:
An association between PVD and menopause has not been documented previously.

We suspect that high estrogen levels seen in premenopausal women may be protective against PVD and that hormonal changes associated with menopause may lead to changes in the vitreous, predisposing to PVD. Higher levels of intake of vitamin B6 were also associated with the development of PVD in premenopausal women possibly through an anti-estrogen effect.

These findings should be investigated further with prospective studies.
 
Last edited:

Learner1

Senior Member
Messages
6,305
Location
Pacific Northwest
A 108-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was also used to estimate macro- and micronutrient intake
??? They estimated nutrient intake based on a list of foods people ate. What if the people ate foods not on the list? What if their portion sizes varied? What if their genetics or environmental exposures made them use up more or less of various nutrients? What if some subjects weighed 100lbs and some weighed 300lbs?

Did anyone measure the levels of nutrients in their blood or urine?

There are a lot of scare tactics warning people from taking supplements, using supposedly "evidence based" studies that are bad science.

Some of us actually NEED high doses of B6... It's used in the production of heme and sphingolipids, as well as at several points in the process of methylation and glutathione production.

It is important to know if we have deficiencies or imbalances before taking random supplements. Additionally, they don't stand on their own, they typically work with other cofactors in biochemical processes.

Customizing nutrient intake based on individual needs can be very powerful.
 

drob31

Senior Member
Messages
1,487
b6 is also important for lowering prolactin (for those with high levels) and thus increasing dopamine (for those with low levels), via assisting with converion of tyrosine to dopamine.
 

pattismith

Senior Member
Messages
3,930
??? They estimated nutrient intake based on a list of foods people ate. What if the people ate foods not on the list? What if their portion sizes varied? What if their genetics or environmental exposures made them use up more or less of various nutrients? What if some subjects weighed 100lbs and some weighed 300lbs?

Did anyone measure the levels of nutrients in their blood or urine?

I don't know if they calculated B6 intake correctly, but I was amazed that I match perfectly with every risk factors of this paper!;)

I may wait until menopause to go back to B6...
 

Learner1

Senior Member
Messages
6,305
Location
Pacific Northwest
I'm taking 350mg P5P daily and am finally not testing as severely deficient. I know its a lot, but my body is using it for all the functions described below from Revolution Health.

Are you sure you or the subjects of the study aren't missing cofactors causing bottlenecks in pathways that can lead to symptoms and disease?

Vitamin B6 is needed to metabolize proteins and is important for a healthy immune system, nerves, bones and arteries. Vitamin B6 is a complex of three similar molecules: Pyridoxine, Pyridoxal and Pyridoxamine. All are present in foods and converted into pyridoxal-5-phosphate, the most active coenzyme form.

The primary functions of vitamin B6 are in protein metabolism, transferring amino acid and sulfur groups. Roles in synthesis of heme (for hemoglobin), niacin, neurotransmitters, connective tissues, eicosanoids and sphingolipids in nerve sheaths are also essential. Vitamin B6 also participates in the utilization of glycogen and immune function.

Cofactor Functions:

  • Cofactor to 112 known enzymes
  • Cofactor for dopa decarboxylase which converts L-dopa to dopamine and 5HTP to serotonin
  • Cofactor to alanine-glyoxalate aminotransferase which converts glyoxylate to glycine
  • Cofactor to erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase which transfers amino groups
  • Cofactor to aspartate aminotransferase which moves amino groups between aspartate & glutamate
  • Cofactor to glycogen phosphorylase which releases glucose from glycogen
  • Cofactor to ornithine aminotransferase which makes proline & prevents gyrate atrophy (retinal degeneration)
  • Cofactor to glutamic acid decarboxylase that converts glutamate to the neurotransmitter GABA
  • Cofactor in the utilization of selenium (disconnects selenium from selenoproteins for use in the body)
  • Conversion to PLP is vitamin B2 dependent; Deficiency of B2 impacts B6 function
  • Cofactor in the synthesis and function of several neurotransmitters including serotonin, gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine
  • Cofactor in mitochondrial respiratory chain to produce energy via ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
  • Cofactor to enzymes that converts homocysteine to cysteine (cystathionine synthase and cystathionase)
  • Cofactor in the synthesis of taurine
  • Cofactor in the synthesis of heme (hemoglobin)
  • Cofactor in the metabolism of vitamin B3 (niacin) from tryptophan via kynurenine pathway
  • Cofactor in the synthesis of connective tissue and eicosanoids
  • Cofactor in the synthesis of sphingolipids for nerve cell insulation
  • Cofactor in the synthesis of antibodies (key role in immune function)
  • Cofactor for tyrosine decarboxylase, which catalyzes the conversion of tyrosine to tyramine
  • Cofactor to lysyl oxidase which builds arterial integrity via role in collagen and elastin structure
  • Cofactor to aminolevulinic acid synthase which aids in hemoglobin synthesis
  • Cofactor to serine hydroxymethyltransferase which transfers methyl groups from serine to folate and initiates immune cell proliferation
  • Cofactor to serine palmitoyltransferase which makes sphingolipids for nerve cell insulation
  • Cofactor to serine facemase which synthesized neurotransmitter D-serine
  • Cofactor to sphinosine-1-phosphate lysase which makes sphingolipids for nerve cell insulation
  • Cofactor to cystathionine-b-synthase which metabolizes homocysteine and serine to form cystathionine
  • Cofactor or kynureninanse which metabolizes tryptophan into vitamin B3 for NAD cofactors
  • Cofactor to GABA aminotransferase which breaks down GABA
  • Cofactor to diamine oxidase, which catabolizes exogenous histidine in the gut
  • Cofactor for histidine decarboxylase which converts histidine to histamine
All Other Functions:
  • B6 is a complex of three molecules: pyridozine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine which are all converted to pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP), the active coenzyme form
  • Bins with histamine and inactivates it (may mitigate allergic response in asthma)
  • Increases peripheral metabolism of levodopa (l-dopa) making it less available for uptake into the brain (may diminish effectiveness of l-dopa medication for Parkinson’s patients when not given with carbidopa which is a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor)
  • High dose B6 can be as effective as Ritalin for ADHD due to its effect of increasing serotonin
  • Synergistic effect with magnesium for autism patients
  • Increases intracellular uptake of magnesium and vice versa
  • Low B6 linked to high CRP (C-reactive protein), a marker of inflammation
  • Supplementation suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-a
  • Tissue specific depletion of B6 occurs during inflammation
  • Crucial for DNA methylation thus regulating gene expression
  • Deficiency impairs conversion of alpha-linolenic acid to EPA and DHA
  • Protects genes from estrogen-induced damage (detoxifies estrogen) lowering risk of hormone related cancers
  • Regulates sex hormones and binds to steroid hormone receptors, thus decreasing their effects
  • Reduces prolactin levels which stimulates hypothalamus to increase testosterone
  • Inhibits pituitary (and other tissue) tumor proliferation via role in apoptosis (programmed cell death)
DEFICIENCIES: Convulsion, nausea, flaky skin, HA, insomnia (uncommon). Isoniazid can induce a deficiency, so you have to supplement with isoniazid prescription. Deficiency is rare but has been seen in infants with low intake of B6, females on OCP’s, and alcoholics.

Early vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms are primarily peripheral neuropathy, weakness, irritability, depression, insomnia and anxiety. More severe deficiency leads to dermatitis, nausea, vomiting and convulsions. Carpal tunnel syndrome, premenstrual tension syndrome and atherosclerosis may also be related to vitamin B6 deficiency. Sideroblastic anemia is indicative of vitamin B6 deficiency. Homocysteine levels in serum may be elevated by a vitamin B6 deficiency.