"Why is vitamin B6 so wonderful as a preventive-healthcare therapy?"

That question is posed by John M. Ellis, M.D., in his 1998 groundbreaking book titled "Vitamin B6 Therapy: Nature's Versatile Healer."

Dr. Ellis explains that B6 is vitally important because the body converts the vitamin into pyridoxal phosphate, a coenzyme that activates enzyme systems – the movers and shakers that trigger every activity in the body. Nearly 120 enzymes need B6 to function properly, and 19 out of your body's 20 amino acids require B6.

But even healthy people, both young and old, tend to be deficient in vitamin B6, according to Dr. Ellis. That's why he believes that B6 supplements must be added to a B6-rich diet in order to maintain sufficient amounts of the vitamin.

Your reward for making sure you get enough B6 can be summed up in two words: cancer prevention.

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B6 revealed
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The past three years have been big for B6.

In the spring of 2005, Harvard Medical School published research that examined ten years of medical records from the Nurses' Health Study. Comparing cases of colorectal cancer against blood tests, researchers found that subjects with the highest B6 concentrations had a 44 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer and nearly a 60 percent lower risk of polyps compared to subjects with the lowest B6 levels.

Later in the year, another research team examined 360 subjects with polyps and 425 polyp-free subjects and found that a lower risk of colorectal polyps was linked to high intake of five key nutrients: folate, beta-carotene, and vitamins C, D, and B6.

Then, early in 2006, another Harvard study found a significant association between dietary intake of folate and vitamin B6 and a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.

And finally, late last year, Tufts University researchers reported that even a modest deficiency of key components in the B complex (including B6) increases colorectal cancer risk.

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Double up
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Ten years after the publication of "Vitamin B6 Therapy," Dr. Ellis would probably approve of the most recent B6 study, which examined both dietary and supplementary intake of the vitamin.

Researchers at Scotland's University of Edinburgh recruited more than 2,000 subjects with colorectal cancer, and about 2,700 healthy control subjects. When vitamin consumption was assessed for each subject, researchers found that high levels of B6 intake reduced colorectal cancer risk by more than 20 percent.

In addition, the Edinburgh team conducted a meta-analysis of colorectal cancer studies in which B6 was tested. The result: High B6 intake reduced colorectal cancer risk by nearly 20 percent. In this analysis, B6 protection against colorectal cancer was slightly higher among subjects over the age of 55.

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Add magnesium
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Bananas and chicken breast have particularly high levels of vitamin B6. Red meat, fish, beans, fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens are also good sources.

As for supplementing, HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., recommends 100 mg of B6 daily, along with other B vitamins, of course, and magnesium. Dr. Spreen: "B6 is definitely more effective in the company of magnesium – they work together intimately in the body."

Talk to your doctor before supplementing with magnesium or vitamin B6, especially if you have Parkinson's disease. Evidence shows that high levels of B6 may reduce potency of levodopa, a Parkinson's medication. Note also that levodopa may contribute to B6 deficiency.

Thank you so much for sharing the Vit E enema and diet. I just started the treatment five days ago, and I fell good today for the first time. I was diagnosed with proctitis UC almost two years ago, and diverticulosis ten years ago. I was on Asacol for more than a year and I discontinued because I figure is not working.
The big problem for me is mucus and uncontrollable BM, and now blood.
I was on raw fruits and steamed vegetables for 6 months. Now I only eat steamed vegetables and Celery juice once a day. I discontinue the Celery juice too after reeding one of your post about vegetable juice not being OK.
However, after that feeling good day, I went back to uncontrollable mucus and BM the following day (day 6).
I follow the enema and the diet, except the distilled water. Not having the distiller yet, I am buying bottled distilled water - I have been consuming Arrowhead bottled distilled water for fifteen years.

Sheldon,
For the last couple of days I have been studying several of the messages you have written over the past 6 years. I think it's great that you have had the generosity of heart to provide so much support to so many people.

I am luckier than others. I developed some colitis about 3 weeks ago and it took that long for a doctor to tell me that it is colitis. The doctor put me on a product called BEDELIX, which is Monmorillonite clay, and told me no raw foods and no fruit, and to concentrate on eating rice and potatoes. He also gave me Immodium to stop the diarhea, but with all the gas, it is not great or effective to shut things down with Immodium. Overall, it sounds like my doctor is more progressive than many others! Anyway, the approach indeed did calm things down, and then after a couple of days I stupidly thought everything was okay already, and reverted to a full and varied diet (with spices, oils, etc), and it of course got worse again.

I found your postings quite quickly and started taking Vit E orally while getting myself organised to follow the diet. I started today the diet and the Vitamin E enema. Among your various postings I found answers to most of my questions. But I might have a new one for you!

I live in Africa, in Dakar. I am trying to track down some distilled water--people need it for car batteries so it has to be around here somewhere. But brown rice--I don't think I will find it. I read one of your explanations that the fibre of white rice is not the same as the fibre in brown rice and therefore cannot be used as a replacement. Ok, that means the diet without the rice. I suppose the diet will work without brown rice, particularly since my case is not severe, and is recently developed. I want to get over this quickly. 3 weeks is more than enough, I can't imagine what it has been like for people with colitis for years!

What I propose to do is this: as soon as I feel that my digestion/elimination has normalised, the first thing I will introduce will be white rice or ground flax (which? or would you suggest another option?) and see if I tolerate it. I will want to get something additional into my diet after several days on cooked vegetables, eggs and yoghurt. Does that sound like a reasonable approach? Any advice would be welcome.

Hello Sheldon,

I have a question on other food possibilities. I had a food alergy test performed a couple of months ago and apparently I have a moderate reaction to Eggs (whites and yolks). Do you have any other suggestions for Breakfest? Also, what about raw nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds). Should these be avoided as well?

Appreciate any thoughts you may have

God Bless

Jim Tate

Hey Sheldon,

I went about 4 days feeling great and it appears I am back to square one. Extreme urgency BM's 7-10 time a day for the last 2 days, horrible cramps and there is a lot of blood so I am extremely discouraged. I have stuck to your diet with 80% of my intake being brown rice and vegtables so I am really at a loss.... :(

Jim