Sunflower seeds are small, grey or black seeds produced in the flowers of the sunflower plant. These seeds are rich sources of polyunsaturated fats, which may help control "bad" cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease. They provide trace minerals such as copper, magnesium and selenium, as well as tryptophan, a substance your body uses to produce serotonin. Sunflower seeds also contain vitamin B-6; however, consuming these seeds is unlikely to cause B-6 toxicity.
Vitamin B-6 Content
A 1-cup serving of sunflower seeds contains about 0.26 mg of vitamin B-6, according to Northwestern University. The recommended daily intake of vitamin B-6 is 1.3 mg per day. The vitamin B-6 in a cup of sunflower seeds is about 20 percent of the recommended daily intake.
Tolerable Upper Limit
The tolerable upper limit of vitamin B-6 for adults, established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, is 100 mg per day, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. The tolerable upper limit for toddlers is 30 mg per day. Toddlers would have to eat about 115 cups of sunflower seeds per day to reach the tolerable upper limit, and adults would have to consume about 385 cups in a day.
Vitamin B-6 Toxicity Levels
No reports of toxicity exist from consuming vitamin B-6 from food sources, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. However, high doses of supplements have produced toxicity, typically at doses of 1,000 mg or more per day. Although rare, doses of 500 mg per day have caused toxicity. There are no known reports of toxicity at the tolerable upper limit of 100 mg per day.
Toxicity Symptoms
Vitamin B-6 toxicity usually causes neurological problems, according to Northwestern University. This may manifest as tingling sensations or numbness in your fingers and toes, or as muscle weakness. Vitamin B-6 coenzymes may cause neurological problems, which may reduce or prevent the synthesis of neurotransmitters,
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