Why Vitamin B6 Is a Key Nutrient for PCOS

While all of the B vitamins play crucial roles in countless biological functions, vitamin B6 is particularly supportive for women struggling with hormone imbalances, like those of us with PCOS. It helps to regulate mood, reduce PMS symptoms, improve heart health and stabilize blood sugar, to name a few. Here’s exactly how vitamin B6 interacts with important hormones to help manage PCOS at its root(s). 

B6 and Homocysteine

Homocysteine is a product that is formed by your body’s breakdown of the amino acid methionine. In low levels, it’s perfectly healthy and normal but when homocysteine creeps up too high, it is associated with cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and PCOS. This is because insulin blocks an enzyme called cystathionine beta synthase in your liver that is in charge of homocysteine metabolism, thus high insulin increases your levels of homocysteine (1, 2). Vitamin B6 is majorly involved in regulating your homocysteine levels. In fact, one study found that supplementing with 50 mg of vitamin B6 a day reduced homocysteine levels in people with cardiac issues by 25% (2). 

B6 and Progesterone

Known as the ultimate “feel good hormone”, progesterone has a calming effect on your brain, improves your overall mood, enhances your sleep, and boosts your libido. It’s also tightly linked to fertility since it’s produced in response to ovulation. This means, if you’re not ovulating, you’re not making any progesterone. While estrogen helps to build your uterine lining, progesterone keeps it stable and healthy so an egg can successfully implant during the pregnancy process. Estrogen and progesterone have an almost inverse relationship, meaning that when progesterone is high, estrogen is low, and vice versa. Interestingly, when your estrogen levels are high and your progesterone levels are low (common for many women these days!), you’re probably going to experience PMS symptoms. 

All that is to say, we want healthy levels of progesterone for smooth periods, happy hormones and stable moods. One way that you can increase your progesterone levels is by ensuring that you’re getting enough vitamin B6. This is because vitamin B6 has been shown in clinical research to increase progesterone levels and normalize women’s menstrual cycles. In fact, one study showed that women who are low or deficient in vitamin B6 have a lower probability of conceiving and a 50% higher risk of miscarriage (3). 

B6 and Blood Sugar

One of the most frustrating parts about having PCOS is the metabolic component of it. Many women notice weight gain around their bellies, weight loss resistance, and blood sugar spikes and crashes throughout their days. A factor in all of these symptoms is insulin resistance – a phenomenon that occurs when your body doesn’t respond to the presence of insulin in your blood as it should, thus leading to a build up of glucose (sugar) in your blood over time. Aside from managing your blood sugar levels with balanced meals, strength training and other supportive lifestyle changes, supplementing with vitamin B6 can be extremely helpful. Research suggests that vitamin B6 decreases insulin levels in your blood and improves your body’s sensitivity to insulin (4, 5). 

Find It In Ovarian Guard

If you want a PCOS-focused supplement with a therapeutic dose of vitamin B6, Ovarian Guard is your girl. This powerhouse formula contains vitamins, minerals, and herbs to support your PCOS from every possible angle, including hormone balance and blood sugar stabilization.