What is vitamin B6 also known as? Exploring Pyridoxine and Its Forms

December 6, 2025 •

2 min read

With more than 100 enzyme reactions depending on it, vitamin B6 is a crucial water-soluble nutrient. The answer to what is vitamin B6 also known as is the key to understanding its biochemistry and wide-ranging effects on the body, from brain function to metabolism.

Quick Summary

Vitamin B6 is a collective name for several compounds, most notably pyridoxine. This essential nutrient is critical for metabolism, neurological function, immune health, and hemoglobin formation.

Key Points

Multiple Names: Vitamin B6 is also known by the name pyridoxine, its most common form, but is a collective term for six related compounds.
The Active Form: The body converts all forms of B6 into the active coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) to perform its functions.
Brain and Mood: It is vital for neurological function and mood regulation.
Important for Metabolism: Vitamin B6 is involved in over 100 enzyme reactions, including those that metabolize protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
Deficiency vs. Toxicity: Deficiency is rare but can cause skin rashes, confusion, and nerve issues; toxicity from high-dose supplements can cause severe sensory neuropathy.
Dietary Sources: The vitamin is found in various foods, including chickpeas, tuna, chicken, potatoes, bananas, and fortified cereals.

Introduction to Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that the human body cannot produce on its own. It's a group of six related compounds, called vitamers, with similar biological activity, rather than a single compound. The most common form in supplements is pyridoxine. All these forms are converted in the body, primarily the liver, into the active coenzyme, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP). PLP is vital for over 100 enzyme reactions, mainly in protein metabolism.

The Vitamin B6 Vitamers: Pyridoxine, Pyridoxal, and Pyridoxamine

The vitamin B6 family includes three natural forms:

Pyridoxine (PN): Often found in dietary supplements.
Pyridoxal (PL): An aldehyde form.
Pyridoxamine (PM): Contains an amino group.

These, along with their phosphorylated derivatives, are collectively known as vitamin B6. They are all converted to the active coenzyme, PLP.

Critical Functions of Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6, through its active form PLP, is essential for numerous bodily functions, including metabolism, neurological function, hemoglobin production, and immune system support. It also helps regulate homocysteine levels.

Dietary Sources of Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 must come from the diet and is found in a variety of foods. Animal sources include fish and poultry, while plant sources include chickpeas and certain fruits and vegetables.

Signs of Deficiency and Risks of Toxicity

Deficiency is uncommon but can cause skin issues, confusion, nerve problems, anemia, and weakened immunity. Toxicity usually results from high-dose supplements and can cause nerve damage.

Comparison of Key Vitamin B6 Forms


Feature	Pyridoxine (PN)	Pyridoxal (PL)	Pyridoxamine (PM)
Common Source	Most common in supplements and fortified foods.	Less common than PN.	Less common than PN.
Active Form	Converted to PLP.	Converted to PLP.	Converted to PLP.
Dietary Sources	Plant-based foods like chickpeas and potatoes.	Animal tissues.	Animal tissues.
Functionality	Precursor requiring conversion.	Precursor.	Precursor.
Toxicity Risk	Primary cause of B6 toxicity is excessive supplemental intake.	High doses can be neurotoxic.	High doses can be neurotoxic.

Conclusion

Vitamin B6 is known by several names, including pyridoxine, and exists in various forms that are converted to the active coenzyme PLP. This coenzyme is crucial for metabolic processes, brain health, and immune function. While deficiency is rare, excessive intake from supplements can lead to nerve damage. A balanced diet typically provides sufficient vitamin B6. More information can be found on the {Link: National Institutes of Health Fact Sheet https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/}.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary function of vitamin B6, specifically in its active coenzyme form (PLP), is to act as a cofactor for over 100 enzymes involved in metabolism, particularly protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism.

Pyridoxine is the most common form of vitamin B6, but the term vitamin B6 refers to a group of six related compounds, including pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine.

A vitamin B6 deficiency can lead to a range of symptoms, including skin rashes, depression, confusion, anemia, and peripheral neuropathy (tingling and numbness in the hands and feet).

No, it is highly unlikely to develop vitamin B6 toxicity from food sources alone. Toxicity is almost always a result of chronic, excessive intake from supplements.

Good sources of vitamin B6 include chickpeas, fish (like tuna and salmon), poultry, potatoes, bananas, and fortified breakfast cereals.

Signs of vitamin B6 toxicity typically involve sensory neuropathy, which is nerve damage that causes numbness, tingling, and a loss of control of body movements. Other symptoms can include skin lesions and nausea.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) is the active coenzyme form of vitamin B6 that performs the nutrient's many functions in the body. The body converts dietary forms like pyridoxine into PLP.