Pyridoxal Phosphate (P-5-P) Benefits, Dosage & Side Effects

Pyridoxal phosphate or P-5-P is the active form of vitamin B6, a crucial nutrient for physical and mental health. As a supplement, P-5-P is promoted to deliver greater benefits with fewer side effects, but there’s no clinical evidence to back this up. Read on to learn everything about pyridoxal phosphate. What is Pyridoxal Phosphate (P-5-P)? Pyridoxal-5’-phosphate (PLP, P-5-P) is an active form of vitamin B6 . This all-around vitamin enables the metabolism of amino acids, carbs, and lipids in your body. It’s involved in [ 1 , 2 ]: Along with vitamin B1 2 and folate , vitamin B6 also helps break down homocysteine and thus protects your heart, brain, and reproductive health [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Vitamin B6 is a crucial nutrient for cognition and mental health . Low vitamin B6 status can lower your brain’s production of serotonin and GABA – two neurotransmitters that control mood, pain perception, and anxiety [ 6 , 7 ]. A variety of foods, such as meat, fish, nuts, grains, and vegetables contain vitamin B6. You can get enough of it from food, but supplements will provide much higher doses when you need them [ 8 ]. Your body converts vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) from food and supplements into active pyridoxal phosphate in the liver. Supplements with active P-5-P are promoted to be more efficient as they don’t require conversion, but the available research is limited . Vitamin B6 supports your heart, immunity, mental health, and cognition. Pyridoxal phosphate (P-5-P) is a popular but poorly researched supplement that contains an active form of this vitamin. Proponents: Doesn’t require metabolic conversion May be more efficient than pyridoxine May be better for some types of infantile seizures May be better for sideroblastic anemia Skeptics: Not well studied in humans Causes digestive issues […]

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