In June this year, the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) announced its intent to make changes to the way products containing Vitamin B6 are accessed and labelled in response to increasing safety concerns.
Also known as pyridoxine, pyridoxal, or pyridoxamine – vitamin B6 is an essential co-enzyme that performs a variety of bodily functions. It is also a common additive in health products and foods including over-the-counter medicines, multivitamins, supplements, shakes and energy drinks.
Exposure to vitamin B6 in high doses or prolonged periods has been shown to lead to a type of nerve damage called Peripheral Neuropathy which presents as tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. It is something we commonly see in general practice.
Many people are not aware they are taking multiple doses of vitamin B6 and certainly not aware excess levels can lead to nerve problems. The good news is that if an excess is found to be the cause of the nerve damage, simply by stopping or reducing the supplements, symptoms generally resolve.
You can review your intake of Vitamin B6 by looking closely at product labels and working out how much you might be consuming compared to the recommended daily intake. For an adult under 50 years of age this is 1.3mg, or 1.7mg for males and 1.5mg for females over 50.
If you think you might be suffering from peripheral neuropathy or vitamin B6 excess it is advisable to also book an appointment with your general practitioner.
