Enjoying an occasional pint could deliver "substantial levels" of vitamin B6, a nutrient essential for cognitive function, blood health and immune system performance, fresh research has revealed.
The study suggests that a single serving of beer might fulfil approximately 15 per cent of one's daily B6 requirements.
Remarkably, even alcohol-free lagers appear capable of providing similar nutritional benefits.
The vitamin survives the brewing process because key ingredients such as barley, wheat, and brewer's yeast naturally contain B6, and fermentation does not entirely eliminate it.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Traditional German bock beer emerged as the clear winner
|GETTY
Researchers examined 65 different beers purchased from German supermarkets to assess their vitamin content.
Their analysis found that a typical lager delivers roughly 20 per cent of the recommended daily allowance for B6.
Traditional German bock beer emerged as the clear winner, containing the highest concentration of the vitamin among all varieties tested, owing to its elevated alcohol content of at least 6.5 per cent.
Lagers, dark lagers and wheat beers followed in the rankings. Rice-based beers, by contrast, contained the lowest B6 levels of any category examined.
Study author Professor Michael Rychlik noted the findings are primarily useful "only for consumers who want to optimise their vitamin intake".
The NHS recommends men consume approximately 1.4mg of vitamin B6 daily, while women require around 1.2mg.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
A litre of beer can contain between 0.3mg and 1mg of the nutrient, according to the research.
Intriguingly, non-alcoholic beers produced through full fermentation with subsequent ethanol removal demonstrated higher B6 concentrations than those brewed using low-ethanol yeasts.
One alcohol-free lager tested delivered nearly 59 per cent of the recommended daily intake.
Beyond beer, B6 is readily available in meat, fish, porridge oats, potatoes and chickpeas, with numerous breakfast cereals also fortified with the vitamin.
Bridget Benelam from the British Nutrition Foundation urged caution regarding the findings.
"We wouldn't suggest that beer or any alcoholic drink is seen as a key source of nutrients. That should be from diet," she said.
She emphasised that B6 deficiency remains uncommon among Britons, given the vitamin's presence across numerous foodstuffs.
A litre of beer can contain between 0.3mg and 1mg of vitamin B6
|GETTY
"Unless you are eating a very restricted diet, it's unlikely that you are not going to be getting enough vitamin B6," Benelam added.
Those with conditions such as alcoholism or chronic kidney disease may face greater risk of deficiency.
She recommended prioritising other B vitamins, particularly B12 and riboflavin, found predominantly in dairy and animal products.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter