Vitamin B6 Deficiency and Its Link to Heart Disease

Have you ever wondered what causes heart disease? We're told to keep our cholesterol low, eat a low fat diet, avoid smoking and stress, but are these really the causes of the disease?

Actually they aren't, they are risk factors. Studies at Harvard medical school suggest the underlying cause of heart disease is a direct result of a vitamin B6 deficiency.

Heart disease starts as an 'injury' to the arteries. Not an injury like you may think of but more of a weakening. This onset of injury is caused by events that stem from a B6 deficiency.

The 'injury' is caused by homocysteine, which is a toxic substance if not utilized properly. If it's allowed to build up in the blood it runs rampant and leads to heart disease. When B6 is at its optimal levels in the blood it prevents the formation and build up of homocysteine.

Homocysteine is the product of methonine breakdown, an amino acid. B6 acts like a coenzyme attacking the homocysteine and converting it into cystathionine, a non-toxic substance that gets used by the body. Without the presence of B6 to counter-act this process, homocysteine levels build up and cause the cell lining of the arteries to deteriorate. The arteries go to work trying to repair themselves by generating a 'patch' of connective tissue. This 'patch' begins to collect lipids known as cholesterol and triglycerides which creates a roadblock in the blood stream and slows down traffic-or blood flow in this case.

Heart patients are advised to lower their cholesterol and fat intake, not because these things lead to heart disease but because they add to the risk of worsening the condition. Once the artery is damaged due to a B6 deficiency, the 'patch' will begin to collect cholesterol from the blood stream making it important to have low cholesterol in the diet.

A high fat diet is a risk factor because people who eat high fat foods and too much animal protein, consume few sources of vitamin B6. B6 is a water soluble vitamin so it needs to be consumed or replaced daily.

Studies indicate that B6 can prevent arteriosclerosis heart disease, but one needs to remember the disease probably started in childhood due to a lack of B6 in the diet.

B6 has not been shown to reverse the disease but with proper diet and an adequate intake of the vitamin it can greatly reduce the risk of a heart attack.

A Japanese study conducted over a period of 13 months showed marked improvements in patients with coronary artery disease. The patients reported having more energy, less angina, and an increase in tolerance to exercise. They also fared better on glucose tolerance tests after being treated with vitamin B6.