Your body needs a variety of nutrients to function properly. Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, aids in some of these body functions such as metabolism and the conversion of food into energy. You also need B6 for your nervous system and many other processes. The human body cannot store B6, so you need to eat a healthy diet or take B6 supplements. As with any nutrient, a high daily intake could lead to toxic effects.
Recommended Intake
The average adult needs between 1.3 mg and 2.0 mg of vitamin B6 each day. This amount will ensure that your body can function properly. Food sources of B6 include bananas, which provide 0.48 mg of the vitamin, and a baked potato with skin, which offers 0.70 mg of B6. Other food sources include salmon, spinach, chicken and turkey.
Toxicity
If you follow a healthy diet full of a variety of foods, you will not typically consume toxic levels of vitamin B6. The upper, tolerable intake of vitamin B6 in adults is 100 mg, and you will mostly likely not reach this level with a standard diet. However, if you take a variety of multivitamins and other supplements, you could potentially reach this upper intake level. Signs of toxicity include pain and numbness in your extremities.
Uses
Your doctor may recommend vitamin B6 supplements over the daily recommended intake to help treat certain health conditions, such as premenstrual syndrome symptoms, depression and carpal tunnel. If you have concerns that you may have vitamin B6 toxicity resulting from high dose treatments, talk to your doctor about alternative methods of caring for your health conditions. In some cases a prescription medication may prove beneficial. Your doctor may also simply reduce your vitamin B6 intake and monitor the dosage for side effects, as well as its effectiveness in treating your health conditions.
Considerations
You should not begin using vitamin B6 supplements without first consulting your doctor. Your doctor can determine the appropriate recommended intake for you, basing this information on the medications you take, health conditions and your overall diet. Inform your doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms that may relate to vitamin B6 use.
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