What vitamin B6 is
Vitamin B6 is one of the eight B vitamins. Its chemical name is pyridoxine. It is water-soluble, which means your body does not store much of it and flushes out the extra in urine. You need a steady supply from food.
B6 is a helper for more than 100 enzymes. Enzymes are the tiny workers that run chemical reactions in your body. B6 helps break down protein, helps make red blood cells, and helps make brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine that affect mood and sleep.
How much you need
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends 1.3 milligrams a day for adults ages 19 to 50. After 50, the target rises to 1.7 mg for men and 1.5 mg for women. Pregnant women need 1.9 mg and breastfeeding women 2.0 mg.
That is a small amount, and a normal diet covers it easily. The safe upper limit for adults is 100 mg a day from supplements. That limit exists for a good reason, explained below.
Where to get it
B6 is in a lot of common foods. Good sources include chickpeas, salmon, tuna, chicken, turkey, potatoes, bananas, and fortified breakfast cereals. Beef liver is very high in it.
Because it is in so many foods, true B6 deficiency is rare in healthy people. It is more common in people with kidney disease, autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or celiac disease, alcohol use disorder, or in people taking certain medicines like isoniazid (a tuberculosis drug) or some seizure medicines.
Signs of low B6
Low B6 often shows up along with low levels of other B vitamins. Symptoms can include a type of anemia, a scaly rash around the mouth and nose, cracked lips, a swollen tongue, depression, confusion, and a weak immune system. In severe cases it can cause seizures.
A blood test can measure the active form of B6, called PLP. Your clinician may check it if you have symptoms and a risk factor.
What B6 is proven to help
B6 has one well-supported medical use: nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lists B6 as a first-line option. The FDA-approved prescription drug Diclegis combines B6 with the antihistamine doxylamine for this reason.
Many other claims are weaker. B6 is sometimes marketed for PMS, mood, carpal tunnel, and heart health. Studies on these are mixed or small, and NIH does not consider them proven. B6 does lower homocysteine, a blood marker tied to heart disease, but trials have not shown that lowering it with vitamins prevents heart attacks.
The danger of too much
This is the most important thing to know about B6. Taking high doses, usually above 100 mg a day for months, can damage nerves. This is called peripheral neuropathy. It causes numbness, tingling, and burning in the hands and feet, and trouble with balance. The damage usually improves when you stop, but it can take a long time, and in some cases it does not fully go away.
Some energy drinks, workout powders, and B-complex pills contain far more than you need. Check labels and add up your total. Unless a clinician tells you to, there is no reason to take high-dose B6.
How Zen IV Spa can help
B vitamins, including B6, are part of the Myers' Cocktail IV ($299) and Mega Myers' ($399) offered by Zen IV Spa. These drips deliver vitamins directly into the bloodstream and are given by a licensed nurse at your home in New York or New Jersey. If you want to know your actual B vitamin levels first, a nurse can draw labs at home and a clinician reviews them with you. Learn more at zenivspa.com/iv/ or call (332) 239-2005.
Common Questions
Is vitamin B6 the same as pyridoxine?+
Yes. Pyridoxine is the chemical name for vitamin B6. Your body converts it into an active form called PLP.
Can B6 help with morning sickness?+
Yes. It is a standard first option for nausea in early pregnancy. Check with your clinician for the right dose.
How much B6 is too much?+
The safe upper limit for adults is 100 mg a day from supplements. Long-term use above that can cause nerve damage.
Does B6 give you energy?+
B6 helps your body turn food into energy, but taking extra will not make you feel more energetic unless you were low to begin with.
Is B6 in a Myers' Cocktail?+
Yes. The Myers' Cocktail includes B-complex vitamins, which contain B6, along with vitamin C, magnesium, and other nutrients.
Sources: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin B6 Fact Sheet for Health Professionals; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidance on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy; FDA prescribing information for Diclegis.
All treatments are medical services. Every guest is screened, and every treatment is prescribed by a licensed provider. Nothing on this page is medical advice for you personally, and the opinions summarized here belong to the doctors named, not to Zen IV Spa. Talk to a provider before starting or stopping anything.
