Vitamin B6- just 50mg can be too much!
By Dr Geraldine Moses Oct 24
Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA), following a rise in cases of peripheral neuropathy in Australia. (1) The dose of vitamin B6 associated with toxicity is not high; as little as 50mg per day has been associated causing peripheral neuropathy, which is often contained in a single tablet of over-the-counter vitamin B-containing products. The risk of toxicity increases with the dose, which often occurs when individuals take multiple products containing Vitamin B6. Typical symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include tingling, burning, or numbness in the hands and feet with accompanying loss of function, which may become permanent if not treated promptly.
Whilst consuming sufficient vitamin B6 is important, typically you can get all you need from your diet if you regularly eat foods like fish, starchy vegetables, and non-citrus fruits. But many patients are unknowingly consuming dangerous levels of the vitamin through supplements. Vitamin B6 tends to be included in products marketed for musculoskeletal pain and cramps (especially those containing magnesium), products for “stress’, sleep, headache and those for ‘strengthening’ the immune system.
Back in March 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) mandated that products containing vitamin B6 in daily doses above 10 mg require a label warning of the risk of peripheral neuropathy risk. In addition, they regulated that products must not provide more than 100 mg of vitamin B6 per day for adults (previously 200 mg), with lower daily dosage limits for children. However, peripheral neuropathy can still occur at doses less than 50 mg, and vitamin B6 can accumulate in the body over time. It is therefore vital that consumers are made more aware of the risk associated with Vitamin B6 supplements, and the need to stop them promptly should symptoms of neuropathy occur.
2. https://www.tga.gov.au/news/safety-updates/peripheral-neuropathy-supplementary-vitamin-b6-pyridoxine
