Drinking an occasional pint of beer might offer a surprising health benefit. New research suggests it can provide a good amount of vitamin B6, which is important for your brain, blood, and immune system.
Beer's Hidden Vitamin Boost
A single serving of beer could give you about 15% of your daily vitamin B6 needs. Even alcohol-free lagers can have this effect. Many ingredients in beer, like barley, wheat, and brewer's yeast, naturally contain B6. The brewing process doesn't remove all of it.
Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient found in many foods. Good sources include meat, fish, porridge oats, potatoes, and chickpeas. Many breakfast cereals also have added B6. It's rare to be truly deficient in B6, but sometimes levels can be low, often along with other B vitamins like B12. This can make you feel tired and nauseous.
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Start Your News DetoxA study looked at 65 different beers from German supermarkets. It found that bock beer had the most B6, followed by lagers, dark lagers, and wheat beers. Rice beers had the least. Interestingly, non-alcoholic beers that had their ethanol removed after full fermentation had more B6 than those made with yeasts that produce less alcohol.
An average lager in the study provided 20% of the recommended daily amount for vitamin B6. One non-alcoholic lager even offered nearly 59%. Men need about 1.4mg of B6 daily, and women need 1.2mg. A liter of beer can contain between 0.3mg and 1mg.
Expert Advice on B Vitamins
Professor Michael Rychlik, a study author, noted that while it's a measurable amount, it's not enough for regulators to allow beer bottles to claim vitamin content. He said the findings are mainly for people who want to optimize their vitamin intake. Traditional German bock beer had the most B6 due to its higher alcohol content, usually around 6.5%.
Bridget Benelam from the British Nutrition Foundation explained that low B6 levels are uncommon in the UK because the vitamin is in so many foods. She stressed that beer or any alcoholic drink should not be seen as a main source of nutrients. Your diet should provide these.
Benelam added that unless you have a very restricted diet, you're likely getting enough B6. People with other health issues, like alcoholism or chronic kidney disease, might experience problems. She recommends focusing on other important B vitamins like B12 and riboflavin (B2), which are found in dairy and animal foods. These vitamins help with metabolism and energy release. Vegans should choose fortified milk and yogurt substitutes to get more of these vitamins.
Deep Dive & References
Vitamin B6 in Beer - Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2016
