Good Food Sources of Vitamin B6
Here's Why:
Vitamin B6 is involved in many functions in the body. It helps your immune system and nervous system, and it aids in the metabolism of essential nutrients. It is also found in many foods and will be easy to fit in your diet if you need to increase your intake.
Recommended Intake:
Age | RDA (mg) | |
---|---|---|
Women | Men | |
1-3 years | 0.5 mg | 0.5 mg |
4-8 years | 0.6 mg | 0.6 mg |
9-13 years | 1.0 mg | 1.0 mg |
14-18 years | 1.2 mg | 1.3 mg |
19-50 years | 1.3 mg | 1.3 mg |
51 and older | 1.5 mg | 1.7 mg |
Pregnancy | 1.9 mg | n/a |
Lactation | 2.0 mg | n/a |
Here's How:
Food | Serving size |
Vitamin B6 content
(mg) |
---|---|---|
Fortified breakfast cereal | 3/4 cup | 0.5-2.0 (check Nutrition Facts label) |
Oatmeal, instant | 1 packet | 0.74 |
Potato, baked with skin | 1 medium | 0.70 |
Banana | 1 medium | 0.68 |
Chicken breast, skinless, roasted | 3 ounces | 0.5 |
Garbanzo beans (chickpeas) | 1/2 cup | 0.57 |
Pork loin, broiled | 3 ounces | 0.39 |
Top sirloin, broiled | 3 ounces | 0.39 |
Halibut, broiled | 3 ounces | 0.34 |
Rainbow trout, cooked | 3 ounces | 0.29 |
Brown rice, cooked | 1 cup | 0.28 |
Sweet potato, baked with skin | 1 medium | 0.27 |
Sunflower seeds, dry roasted | 1 ounce | 0.23 |
Avocado | 1/2 cup | 0.20 |
Kidney beans, cooked | 1/2 cup | 0.18 |
Lentils, cooked | 1/2 cup | 0.18 |
Tuna, canned in water | 3 ounces | 0.18 |
Peanut butter | 2 tablespoons | 0.15 |
Lima beans, cooked | 1/2 cup | 0.10 |
Soybeans, cooked | 1/2 cup | 0.05 |
To increase your vitamin B6 intake:
- Sprinkle kidney beans or garbanzo beans on a salad.
- In the morning, opt for a fortified breakfast cereal.
- Slice a banana into your oatmeal, cereal, or yogurt.
- Have fish for dinner a few times a week.
- Choose brown rice instead of white, and mix lentils with the rice.
- For a different sandwich, try peanut butter and banana.
- If you take a vitamin supplement, make sure it contains vitamin B6—but no more than 100% of the RDA. Also, talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement.
RESOURCES:
American Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright.org/
US Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Council on Food and Nutrition
http://www.ccfn.ca/
Dietitians of Canada
http://www.dietitians.ca/
References:
de Planter Bowes A, Thompson Pennington J, Church H.Bowes & Church's Food Values of Portions Commonly Used. 17th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1998.
Duyff R. The American Dietetic Association's Complete Food & Nutrition Guide. Minneapolis, MN: Chronimed Publishing; 1998.
Last reviewed May 2010 by Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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