Vitamin B-6, or pyridoxine, makes up an essential part of your diet, and your body relies on the vitamin to maintain your health. Vitamin B-6 helps your nervous system function, helps regulate hormone activity, contributes to red blood cell production and aids in energy production. Consuming too much pyridoxine may cause health effects; you should avoid exceeding the maximum recommended dosage of the vitamin.
Upper Tolerable Limit
The maximum recommended dosage, also called upper tolerable limit (UL), is the largest dose of the vitamin you can take without significant risk of developing side effects. The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University indicates that adults should consume no more than 100 mg of vitamin B-6 daily to avoid side effects, while adolescents should limit their intake to less than 80 mg per day. At higher doses, you risk pyridoxine toxicity and it's accompanying symptoms.
Effects of Vitamin B-6 Toxicity
Consuming more than the maximum dosage of vitamin B-6 can lead to negative health effects. Exposure to very high levels of vitamin B-6 -- especially if consumed regularly over a period of time -- can cause nerve damage, leading to numbness or unexplained pain, as well as difficulty controlling muscle contraction and difficulty walking. The dosage required for these effects can range from 500 to 1000 mg of the vitamin -- much higher than the maximum tolerable intake level.
Other Effects of Exceeding a Maximum Vitamin B-6 Overdose
Taking a large dose of vitamin B-6, above the maximum dose recommended for your age group, can also have an effect on any medications in your system. Vitamin B-6 interacts with a number of pharmaceuticals, including chemotherapy drugs, antidepressants, seizure drugs, Parkinson's medications and antibiotics, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Exceeding the upper tolerable limit intake of vitamin B-6 may interfere with the efficacy of these drugs, leading to side effects related to your underlying disorder. Always consult your physician before taking vitamin B-6 supplements, to help avoid interactions with medication.
Avoiding Vitamin B-6 Toxicity
You can avoid vitamin B-6 toxicity by consuming the vitamin at lower doses than the UL. Your body requires considerably less than the maximum dosage to function. Generally, males between the ages of 19 and 50 should consume 1.5 mg of the vitamin per day, while women in this age group should consume 1.2 mg daily, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Women and men over the age of 50 should consume 1.5 or 1.7 mg per day, respectively. Maintain a balanced and healthy diet to obtain the required amount of vitamin B-6 without the need for vitamin supplements. Fortified cereals contain .5 to 2.5 mg of B-6 per cup, while a medium banana contains .43 mg and a baked potato contains about .70 mg.
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