Vitamin B6 is an essential vitamin, primarily used as a cofactor to aid in enzymatic reactions.
Vitamin B6 is used as a cofactor in the brain to support production of neurotransmitters dopamine, GABA, and serotonin.
Name
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, pyridoxal)
Vitamin B6 and Cognitive Function
Vitamin B6 acts as an enzymatic cofactor throughout the body, but one of it's roles in cognition is to support neurotransmitter production.
Dopamine Metabolism
Vitamin B6 helps convert precursor L-DOPA into active dopamine by acting on the enzyme L-dopa decarboxylase. Additionally, vitamin B6 is theorized to provide support for increased dopamine metabolism generated by CREB's heightened transcription of tyrosine hydroxylase, a rate-limiting enzyme that is thought to be one of the major molecular compounds in determining dopamine levels.
