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|Molar mass||169.18 g mol−1|
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Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Pyridoxine is one of the compounds that can be called vitamin B6, along with pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. It differs from pyridoxamine by the substituent at the '4' position. Its hydrochloride salt pyridoxine hydrochloride is often used.
Function in the body 
Pyridoxine assists in the balancing of sodium and potassium as well as promoting red blood cell production. It is linked to cardiovascular health by decreasing the formation of homocysteine. Pyridoxine may help balance hormonal changes in women and aid the immune system. Lack of pyridoxine may cause anemia, nerve damage, seizures, skin problems, and sores in the mouth.
It is required for the production of the monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine, as it is the precursor to pyridoxal phosphate: cofactor for the enzyme aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. This enzyme is responsible for converting the precursors 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) into serotonin and levodopa (L-DOPA) into dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline. As such it has been implicated in the treatment of depression and anxiety.
Very good sources of pyridoxine are grains and nuts.
Medicinal uses 
Pyridoxine is given to patients taking isoniazid to combat the toxic side effects of the drug. It is given 10–50 mg/day to patients on to prevent peripheral neuropathy and CNS effects that are associated with the use of INH.
In one form of homocystinuria, activity of the deficient enzyme can be enhanced by the administration of large doses of pyridoxine (100-1000 mg/day).
Vitamin B6 can be compounded into a variety of different dosage forms. It can be used orally as a tablet, capsule, or solution. It can also be used as a nasal spray or for injection when in its solution form.
Vitamin B6 is usually safe, at regular intakes up to 200 mg per day in adults. However, vitamin B6 can cause neurological disorders, such as loss of sensation in legs and imbalance, when taken in high doses (200 mg or more per day - 10,000% of US RDA) over a long period of time. Vitamin B6 toxicity can damage sensory nerves, leading to numbness in the hands and feet as well as difficulty walking. Symptoms of a pyridoxine overdose may include poor coordination, staggering, numbness, decreased sensation to touch, temperature, and vibration, and tiredness for up to six months. One study reported that over a 6 month period or longer, 21% of women taking doses greater than 50 mg daily experienced neurological toxicity. The effect of doses below 50 mg was not reported. Pyridoxine's fetal safety is "A" in Briggs' Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk. Its also used to treat a Vitamin B6 deficiency.
- Pyridoxine at Sigma-Aldrich
- Kashanian, M.; Mazinani, R.; Jalalmanesh, S. (2007). "Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) therapy for premenstrual syndrome". International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics 96 (1): 43–4. doi:10.1016/j.ijgo.2006.09.014. PMID 17187801.
- Vitamin B1, www.HowStuffWorks.com[full citation needed]
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - sources, benefits, dosage, deficiency, overdose, toxicity[full citation needed]
- Dalton, K.; Dalton, M. J. T. (1987). "Characteristics of pyridoxine overdose neuropathy syndrome". Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 76 (1): 8–11. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1987.tb03536.x. PMID 3630649.
- Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk, 8th edition. 2008. Published by: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.