Role of Vitamin B₆ in Testosterone Synthesis

Boosting testosterone production and maintaining its adequate concentrations in males is still a critical area of the ongoing research. Vitamin B₆ (VB6), also named pyridoxine, is an essential nutrient and biochemically an organic cofactor in various enzymatic reactions that activate several catabolic and anabolic processes, including energy production, neurotransmitter synthesis, immune system function. While various studies have revealed an indirect association between testosterone and VB6, a collective and comprehensive review of its role in testosterone synthesis has been lacking. Here, we review and summarize the involvement of VB6 in testosterone production and regulation. To achieve this, a thorough search of the PubMed and Scopus databases was conducted, identifying English-language articles published from August 1956 to the present using the keywords "vitamin B₆" and "pyridoxine" versus testosterone. Relevant studies contributing to a mechanistic understanding of this relationship were also included. In summary, VB6 is essential for testosterone production and regulation through various indirect mechanisms. These include its impact on hormonal signaling pathways like GnRH and prolactin, its role in activating enzymatic processes that affect testosterone synthesis, its modulation of androgen receptor sensitivity, and its protection against oxidative stress and homocysteine toxicity. Such critical role of VB6 in regulating testosterone levels in men is considered a strong incentive for researchers to conduct interventional studies.