What Is Vitamin B6 Toxicity And What Are The Symptoms Of Taking Too Much?

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In January Guardian Australia told nan communicative of Simon Bogemann who developed a nervus information known arsenic peripheral neuropathy aft consuming excessive vitamin B6 from multivitamin and magnesium supplements.

Since then, nan imaginable of these over-the-counter supplements to origin harm has attracted expanding attention.

An interim decision from nan Therapeutic Goods Administration proposes changes that could spot products containing much than 50mg of vitamin B6 go pharmacist-only medicines.

A potential people action against Blackmores is besides being considered for excessive B6 levels successful nan company’s vitamin supplements.

As nan regulator considers further action, here’s what you request to cognize astir vitamin B6.

What is B6 toxicity?

Vitamin B6 toxicity occurs erstwhile group devour excessive amounts of B6-containing supplements and person levels successful their humor higher than what nan assemblage needs.

Dr Terri-Lynne South, a GP, dietician and spokesperson for nan Royal College of General Practitioners, says: “Back successful nan day, B6 was what we would telephone a water-soluble vitamin, and nan contented was you can’t overdose connected water-soluble vitamins … But we found, surely pinch B6, that’s not nan case, that it is stored successful nan body.”

Higher than normal amounts of B6 stored successful nan humor tin person damaging effects, South says, “particularly to immoderate of our peripheral nerves – nerves successful nan extremities”. It tin origin dysfunction, including pain, pins and needles, nonaccomplishment of sensation and nonaccomplishment of centrifugal usability successful utmost cases.

Where is vitamin B6 found?

Vitamin B6 is recovered people successful galore foods including fish, non-citrus fruits and starchy vegetables. High intake of B6 from earthy sources person not been reported to origin adverse effects.

B6 is besides recovered successful galore supplements, including magnesium, multivitamins, zinc, and B-complex formulas, arsenic good arsenic fortified foods, including power drinks, meal cereals and weight nonaccomplishment shakes. B6 toxicity occurs erstwhile group devour excessive amounts of B6 from these non-natural sources.

People only request astir 1mg of B6, truthful it tin beryllium very easy to devour excessively much, South says. “Part of nan problem is that B6 is known by different names [including] pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and truthful it tin beryllium difficult for group to really cognize really overmuch B6 they’re getting from each sources.”

When should group beryllium worried astir symptoms?

People should beryllium mindful if they are taking vitamin aliases mineral supplements, aliases utilizing products pinch B6 specified arsenic power drinks. The symptoms of B6 toxicity which lead to peripheral neuropathy are not very specific, meaning they could person galore causes, South says. If group person pins and needles successful nan hands and feet, aliases a burning sensation, numbness aliases trouble pinch equilibrium aliases walking, “I wouldn’t needfully jump to opportunity that it’s B6 toxicity.”

How tin you debar it? What action should group take?

Be alert of nan galore sources B6 is recovered in, arsenic good arsenic its galore names including pyridoxine, pyridoxal aliases pyridoxamine, South says. “Work retired really overmuch you mightiness beryllium having a day,” South says. If it’s greater than 50mg, South recommends talking to a GP aliases pharmacist astir your consumption.

Even if group don’t person symptoms, they should not beryllium taking much than 50mg a day, she says. There is still immoderate conjecture astir whether amounts moreover little than 50mg tin origin toxicity. “It is very individual astatine what constituent successful clip personification who’s having excessive sources of B6 whitethorn get symptoms of toxicity,” South says.

If group do acquisition symptoms, a humor trial could thief activity retired whether it is B6 toxicity aliases thing else, she says.