Can You Have Too Much Vitamin B6 in Your System?

December 13, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Institutes of Health, toxicity from vitamin B6 is almost exclusively caused by high-dose supplements, not food sources. This raises a critical question for many supplement users: can you have too much vitamin B6 in your system, and what are the risks involved?

Quick Summary

Excessive intake of vitamin B6, typically from supplements, can lead to pyridoxine toxicity. This condition causes nerve damage, resulting in painful and debilitating symptoms like numbness, tingling, and poor coordination in the hands and feet.

Key Points

Toxicity is Real: Yes, you can have too much vitamin B6, a condition almost always caused by excessive intake from supplements, not food.
Nerve Damage is the Main Risk: The most severe consequence of B6 toxicity is peripheral neuropathy, which causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet.
Know the Safe Limits: The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for adults is 100 mg per day, though adverse effects have been reported at lower, chronic doses.
Identify Hidden B6: Check all supplement labels for pyridoxine, pyridoxal, or pyridoxamine, as B6 is often included in multivitamins, B-complexes, and magnesium products.
Cessation is the Cure: The primary treatment for toxicity is to stop all B6 supplements, which often leads to gradual symptom improvement, though recovery can be slow.
Consult a Doctor: Given that symptoms can overlap with other conditions, a healthcare provider should be consulted for proper diagnosis and management of suspected B6 toxicity.

Understanding Vitamin B6 Toxicity

Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin essential for numerous bodily functions, including metabolism, brain development, and red blood cell production. Because it is water-soluble, excess amounts are typically excreted in the urine. However, prolonged, high-dose supplementation can overwhelm the body's capacity, leading to a build-up in tissues and causing damage, particularly to the nervous system. This condition, known as vitamin B6 toxicity or pyridoxine toxicity, is a well-documented risk associated with supplement use.

Symptoms of Excessive Vitamin B6

High levels of vitamin B6 can have various adverse effects, with the most serious being peripheral neuropathy. The symptoms can differ depending on the dose and duration of excessive intake, but often present as neurological issues.

Common symptoms of B6 toxicity include:

Peripheral Neuropathy: A classic sign involving numbness, tingling, or burning sensations, most commonly affecting the hands and feet. This is sometimes described as a 'stocking-glove' pattern.
Ataxia: A lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements, which can make walking difficult.
Photosensitivity: An increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight.
Dermatological Lesions: Painful or disfiguring skin patches.
Gastrointestinal Issues: Nausea and heartburn.
Reduced Pain and Temperature Sensation: An impaired ability to sense pain or extreme temperatures.

It is important to note that these symptoms can sometimes mimic those of a vitamin B6 deficiency or other medical conditions, making a thorough evaluation by a healthcare provider essential.

How Much is Too Much? Defining the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)

For most adults, the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for vitamin B6 from all sources (food, beverages, and supplements) is 100 mg per day. This is a maximum safe level, and health experts advise against long-term consumption above this amount without medical supervision. Several authorities have noted that toxicity has been reported at doses lower than 100 mg, sometimes even below 50 mg/day, especially when consumed for extended periods. Individual sensitivity to B6 toxicity can vary significantly.

Dietary Intake vs. Supplemental Intake


Feature	Dietary Vitamin B6	Supplemental Vitamin B6
Source	Found naturally in a wide variety of foods like chickpeas, tuna, salmon, potatoes, and bananas.	Often taken as a standalone supplement or part of multivitamins and B-complex formulas.
Risk of Toxicity	Virtually nonexistent. It is nearly impossible to consume toxic amounts from food alone.	The primary cause of B6 toxicity, especially with chronic, high-dose use.
Recommended Intake	Easily achieved through a balanced diet for most individuals. The recommended daily allowance is low (e.g., 1.3 mg for adults 19-50).	Supplementation is typically unnecessary for healthy individuals unless advised by a doctor for a specific deficiency or medical condition.
Accidental Overdose	Not a concern.	A significant risk, particularly for those taking multiple products containing B6 (e.g., a multivitamin and a magnesium supplement) without realizing the cumulative dose.

What to Do If You Suspect B6 Toxicity

If you are taking supplements containing vitamin B6 and experience any of the symptoms mentioned, it is crucial to take immediate action:

Stop Taking Supplements: Immediately discontinue all supplements containing vitamin B6, including multivitamins and any combination products.
Consult a Healthcare Provider: See a doctor for a proper diagnosis. They will review your supplement history and may conduct a neurological exam or blood tests to check your B6 levels.
Check All Supplement Labels: As B6 can go by various chemical names (e.g., pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate), check all your supplements to identify any hidden sources.
Symptomatic Management: Your doctor may recommend supportive care to manage symptoms, such as physical therapy for coordination issues or medication for pain.
Recovery: The prognosis is generally favorable, with symptoms often improving after supplementation is stopped. However, recovery can be slow, taking several months or longer. In some cases of severe or prolonged exposure, nerve damage may be permanent.

Conclusion

While a necessary nutrient for overall health, vitamin B6 can be harmful in excessive amounts, with toxicity almost exclusively resulting from high-dose supplements rather than dietary intake. The primary risk is permanent nerve damage, so understanding the symptoms, safe intake levels, and potential sources of excessive B6 is crucial for anyone using supplements. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting high-dose supplementation. For more information, you can visit the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.

What to Look Out For

Nerve Damage: Long-term, high-dose B6 supplementation can cause peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that results in numbness, tingling, and pain, especially in the extremities.
Source of Toxicity: Toxicity is caused by supplements, not by consuming B6-rich foods, as the body can't absorb a toxic amount from diet alone.
Safe Limit: The Tolerable Upper Intake Level for adults is 100 mg per day, though some cases of toxicity have occurred at lower doses over time.
Hidden Sources: Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, can be found in multivitamins and supplements like magnesium, so check all labels to track your total intake.
Immediate Action: If you experience symptoms of neuropathy, stop taking B6 supplements and consult a doctor immediately. While recovery is possible, nerve damage can be permanent.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary cause of vitamin B6 toxicity is the long-term, high-dose use of dietary supplements containing pyridoxine, as it is nearly impossible to get toxic amounts from food alone.

For adults, the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is 100 mg per day. Chronic intake above this level is considered too much, though adverse effects have been seen with long-term use of doses as low as 50 mg/day or less.

Early signs can include numbness or tingling in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy), followed by more pronounced symptoms like difficulty walking, muscle weakness, and coordination problems (ataxia).

No, consuming too much vitamin B6 from dietary sources like food and beverages is not known to cause toxicity. The risk is associated with concentrated supplemental forms.

The main treatment for B6 toxicity is to immediately stop taking all supplements containing the vitamin. Symptoms often gradually improve over time, but recovery can be slow.

No, in many cases, symptoms resolve or lessen once supplementation is stopped. However, for individuals with very high or prolonged exposure, the nerve damage can be permanent.

Yes, a healthcare provider can order blood tests to measure your vitamin B6 levels, though a thorough medical history of supplement use is also critical for diagnosis.