Vitamin B6 refers to a family of three closely related, water soluble compounds: pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. The conversion of vitamin B6 into the active compound of pyridoxal-5-phosphate occurs naturally in the body, and whilst supplements providing P-5-P are believed to be slightly better absorbed than pyridoxine, the difference is not seen as sufficient reason to use this more expensive form of the nutrient.
Vitamin B6 is probably involved in more processes in the body than any other B vitamin, but despite this up to 25% of women have diets that provide less than the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) for this vitamin (and the NRV is just 1.2mg which is likely to be a long way short of an optimum intake).
Vitamin B6 is popular with women as a pre-menstrual supplement as there is some evidence that it may assist in essential fatty acid metabolism and fluid balance. It is now well established that deficiencies of vitamin B6 can raise homocysteine levels in the blood, a factor that has been implicated in the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Each tablet provides a full 50mg of vitamin B6. Made in the UK and produced in premises that operate to stringent pharmaceutical standards of GMP.