You might have seen recent headlines about “vitamin B6 toxicity” or “B6 poisoning,” and wondered, is it safe to take supplements containing B6?

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a key nutrient your body needs every single day. It helps regulate mood, supports your nervous and immune systems, and plays a role in balancing homocysteine, a marker often linked with cardiovascular health and methylation.

Like many nutrients though, balance is everything.

Why B6 Matters

Vitamin B6 is involved in over 100 enzyme reactions in your body. It supports:

• Energy production and metabolism
• Hormone and neurotransmitter balance (think serotonin and GABA: your calming brain chemicals)
• Detoxification and methylation
• Immune function

Low levels can cause fatigue, low mood, and nerve issues like tingling or burning sensations. But taking too much can cause similar symptoms, which is where confusion often arises.

What’s Behind the “B6 Toxicity” News?

In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has reviewed B6 safety after reports of nerve-related side effects, known as peripheral neuropathy.

While most of these cases involved high doses (over 200 mg per day for long periods), some newer reports suggest even lower doses can affect certain individuals.

But it’s important to remember:

Elevated blood levels of B6 don’t always mean “toxicity.”

Sometimes, high test results or symptoms can actually reflect a deficiency or poor metabolism of the nutrient, not an overdose.

Why Some People React Differently

How your body uses B6 depends on a few key things — your genes, diet, liver and kidney function, and overall nutrient balance.

Some people have genetic variants (such as in the PDXK or ALPL genes) that affect how B6 is activated and used inside cells. For these people, even standard doses may build up in the blood but not work efficiently at the tissue level, leading to what’s called the “B6 paradox”: high blood levels but symptoms of deficiency.

That’s why testing and professional guidance are so important before supplementing.

Testing B6 Levels — What to Know

The best way to assess B6 status is through plasma PLP (pyridoxal 5’-phosphate) testing — the active form your body uses.
A few key points to keep in mind:

• Always test fasting, as glucose or a carb-heavy meal can drop your levels.
• Certain factors like inflammation, low albumin, poor liver or kidney function, and even processed foods (which contain added phosphates) can affect results.
• Moderate elevations are usually safe — it’s persistent, high levels (above ~190 nmol/L) that may raise concern.

What If You Have Symptoms of Nerve Tingling or Numbness?

If you’re taking a B6 supplement and start noticing tingling, burning, or numbness in your hands or feet:

1. Stop supplementation immediately.
2. Check in with your practitioner for a review of your dose and any recent blood work.
3. Supporting nutrients like B12, folate, zinc, and magnesium can assist recovery and improve methylation.

Most people see improvement within a few days to weeks once B6 is stopped.

In summary:
B6 is a powerhouse vitamin that supports everything from mood to metabolism — but like any nutrient, it’s about the right dose, in the right form, for the right person.

If you’re unsure whether your supplements are serving you or stressing your system, it might be time for a nutrient review and some functional testing to see how your body’s truly responding.