5 Differences Between Vitamin B6 and B12
The two B vitamins, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 are similar in many ways, but they’re also quite different from each other in several ways that may surprise you! Vitamin B6 comes in three different forms (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine).
while vitamin B12 comes in four (cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, and methylcobalamin). They’re both essential nutrients that support many body functions, like protein metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis.
What is vitamin B6?
First off, vitamin B6 also known as pyridoxine is a water-soluble nutrient that is involved in more than 100 enzymatic reactions in your body. In other words, it’s one of those all-important vitamins that helps you digest, think clearly, control stress levels, maintain a healthy immune system, and much more.
What is vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is one of eight water-soluble vitamins which can be stored in the body, unlike fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. The RDA for vitamin B12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms (mcg) per day; it’s recommended that you don’t exceed more than three times your daily intake or 1000 mcg per day.
The 5 Surprising Differences Between Vitamin B6 and B12
Here are the 5 differences between vitamin b6 and b12 that will surprise you. Do you know the Differences Between Fat Soluble and Water Soluble?
Difference #1: RDA
Because vitamin B12 is generally easier to absorb, it has a higher recommended daily allowance (RDA) than vitamin B6. The RDA for vitamin B6 is 1.3 mg per day for adult men and women, while the RDA for vitamin B12 is 2.4 mcg per day.
Difference #2: Absorption
The difference between vitamin B6 and B12 absorption is that vitamin B6 absorbs twice as well as its more famous cousin. If you want to maintain normal health.
try consuming at least 3 milligrams of vitamin B6 daily, which may help prevent anemia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic neuropathy.
Difference #3: Assimilation
Both vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12 need to be converted into their active forms in order to do their jobs in your body. This process is called assimilation, which is often referred to as activation or metabolism.
The two vitamins work differently, however: while you can only activate vitamin B-6 by itself via a two-step conversion process that requires pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), PLP will also help you activate vitamin B-12.
Difference #4: Storage in body
one of the most surprising differences between b6 and b12 is that vitamin b6 can be stored in the body for several weeks. Whereas, once vitamin b12 is ingested it should be converted to methyl-b12 as soon as possible.
This means that individuals who have a defect with their MTHFR (Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) enzyme (commonly seen in those with hyperhomocysteinemia) may not properly convert b12 without supplementation.
The end result could be increased homocysteine levels – which have been linked to cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, degenerative neurological diseases, poor bone health, and some types of cancer.
Difference #5: Sources of Vitamins B6 and B12
While both vitamins can be found in many of our favorite foods, vitamin B12 is much harder to find. The reason for this is that it occurs naturally in animal-based foods.
Unless you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you should be able to get enough vitamin B12 by eating fish, poultry, eggs, and/or dairy products every day. And although supplements are available if you can’t consume enough through food alone, they aren’t as well-absorbed by your body as those derived from food sources.
This isn’t true for vitamin B6 though it’s easy to get all of your daily requirements just by eating a balanced diet.
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In conclusion, there are five surprising differences between vitamin B6 and B12. Both vitamins are important for the body, but they have different functions. B6 is necessary for the metabolism of amino acids, while B12 is involved in the formation of red blood cells. B6 is found in several foods, while B12 is found mostly in animal products. B6 is water-soluble, while B12 is stored in the liver.