Most Vitamin B6 Side Effects
Are Actually Toxicity Symptoms

There are very few Vitamin B6 Side Effects, and most are not related to taking ‘normal’ amounts of Vitamin B6, but are related to taking too much and getting Vitamin B6 Toxicity. However, there are some people with a common genetic ‘quirk’ that become toxic on very low doses of Vitamin B6; even the amount present in a multivitamin supplement. These people might think that they are experiencing Vitamin B6 side effects, but are actually experiencing Vitamin B6 Toxicity.

Vitamin B6 is critical in thousands of chemical reactions throughout the body, such as:

The prevention of Magnesium Deficiency
Regulation of mood through neurotransmitters
Detoxification through a process called methylation
Regulation of the inflammatory process

Without Vitamin B6, we get the B6 Deficiency Symptoms of depression, mood problems, immune system depression, chronic inflammation, and a host of other problems. Because of this, some people may choose to take supplements to fill the gap in case their diet does not provide enough Vitamin B6.

While taking B vitamins can certainly prudent, it’s always good to know the problems that could be caused from taking these supplements, or when taking too much.

Vitamin B6 Side Effects
Are Mostly Problems of Toxicity

We mentioned earlier that most side effects are actually problems of Vitamin B6 Toxicity and not side effects per se. Vitamin B6 itself just has so few side effects that they are simply not even mentioned in most studies. So, if you are taking Vitamin B6 and have any problems at all, you should be aware that you could actually be toxic- even if you only took very small doses.

How Much is Too Much Vitamin B6?

The problems occur when someone takes too much, but ‘too much’ is a relative term that is going to be different for each individual. The vast majority of people do not become toxic on doses of less than 1000 mg per day, however, there are some people who can get problems even on as small a dose as that contained in a multivitamin.

These symptoms can include problems such as:

Brain fog
‘Pins and needles’ type pain in the lower feet and legs, a condition called Peripheral Neuropathy
Unsteady walking
Difficulty picking things up
Decreased sensation.

If you have any of these symptoms and you are taking large doses of Vitamin B6, then the solution is to stop taking them. However, if you have these symptoms and are not taking Vitamin B6 or only taking a multivitamin, then you must stop all sources of Vitamin B6 and get a Vitamin B6 Level as soon as possible.

Your Genes on Vitamin B6

If your Vitamin B6 Level is high on only a small amount of Vitamin B6, the next step is to get a test for the MTHFR gene.The MTHFR gene is a gene that regulates the conversion of Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and folic acid into their ‘active’ forms in the blood. If you have a ‘quirk’ in the gene, then you can have problems converting Vitamin B6 from supplements into their active form in the blood.

Ironically, when this gene is expressed, you can have BOTH toxicity AND a Vitamin B6 Deficiency at the same time! This is because the Vitamin B6 will build up in the blood, but it is not able to be converted into its active form in order to get into the cells. You will have a high Vitamin B6 Level and the symptoms of toxicity, while also having Symptoms of Vitamin B6 Deficiency at the same time!

If you are wondering why you have been experiencing Vitamin B6 Side Effects, you've found your answer. You are almost certainly experiencing Vitamin B6 Toxicity from the MTHFR Gene. So get tested and find out your options.