4 replies to this topic

[blind12]

If one were to live in country where it is impossible to get many medications and where internet purchases invoke criminal charges, could he expect some deprenyl-like benefits from B6 ?

Would constant use of B6 at around 600 mg / day provide continuous dopamine boost or will there be adaptations that block the effect of additional B6, like I've heard happens with continuous tyrosine (and 5-HTP for serotonine) ?

[Guacamolium]

From what I remember, you'd be risking B-6 toxicity at those levels. High levels of B-12 might be a better substitute.

[chrono]

I seriously doubt the cognitive benefits of B6 (if any) would be similar to those of deprenyl. As far as I can tell, B6 doesn't increase dopamine activity. Besides reducing risk of Parkinson's, the only significant relationship I could find is that higher dopamine might warrant B6 supplementation:

Depression of vitamin B6 levels due to dopamine.
Weir MR, Keniston RC, Enriquez JI Sr, McNamee GA.

Dopamine is a commonly used pressor agent. Frequently recognized side effects other than occasional reports of pedal gangrene respond to reduction of dose. Because a number of compounds interfere with vitamin B6 and dopamine toxicity in animals is modified by B6, we studied the dopamine-vitamin B6 interaction in rabbits. Six animals received 40 mg dopamine/kg and 10 mg pyridoxine injections; 6 received dopamine and saline. Dopamine administration led to an average fall of 20% (p = 0.04) in plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) levels, which declined 42% by day 5. Three days later, a 25% decrease persisted (p = 0.03). Dopamine with pyridoxine caused a PLP rise of 65% (p = 0.007), but the post-study level was 28% lower than baseline (p = 0.04). We interpret our data to mean that dopamine reduced PLP levels during and 3 days after the study, and that dopamine appeared to increase the requirements for B6. We worry that dopamine given with other drugs, ie gentamicin, digoxin and theophylline which are frequently used in critical care settings, could aggravate alterations of requirements for or body stores of vitamin B6, creating B6 deficiency.

PMID: 2035239 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Tyrosine, nicotine or even magnesium would probably be closer to the mark.

Edited by chrono, 29 November 2010 - 10:07 AM.

[longevitynow]

A second vote for B12. Swallowed B vitamins I don't notice too much, but a high dose sublingual
B12 gives me an immediate burst of energy. But not like the cognitive sharpening I get from deprenyl.

[Gecko]

From what I remember, you'd be risking B-6 toxicity at those levels. High levels of B-12 might be a better substitute.

I know this threads a couple of months old, but I'd like to strongly second this point, high levels of vitamin B6 can result in neurological damage to somatosensory systems such as proprioception and kinesthesis which may be irreversible. Proprioception is the ability to sense where a body part is and kinesthesis is the ability to sense movement of a body part. Damage to these systems can be incredibly debilitating and is probably not worth the risk.

I'm not sure at exactly what levels these toxic effects occur, but I've read it's in levels of B6 from 200mg upwards. I know I certainly wouldn't want to find out about B6 overdose personally.