I just came across this video about overdosing on vitamin B6. A retired doctor took a magnesium supplement called Muscleze to help with leg cramps as advised by her pharmacist. Clearly she didn't scrutinise the product and has had some adverse effects to the large levels of B6 added to help with the absorption of the magnesium.
It is quite a wake-up call to advice from the medical profession, pharmacists and vitamin companies. We each need to look at closely to what we are putting in our bodies and why. It is worthwhile to look at all supplements you are consuming to ensure you are not overdosing yourself and aiming for the recommended daily allowance (RDA) limit and not go by the upper limit. Clearly this product should be banned, but isn't. BTW the B6 prescribed to take for the supplement was 26 times the RDA, but less that 50% of the prescribed upper limit.
Yes, I will certainly from now on. I have some tablets called "Executive B Stress" which I have taken for short periods of time in the past which when taken as advised have the same levels of B6 as the product in the video. I have a bottle in front of me which I considered taking to supplement the B12 I am taking, I didn't! I must have given them a go recently while feeling unwell before being diagnosed with PA because they are only just out of date. I did give iron a shot as well about 2 years ago because I felt anaemic (doctor said nothing about the present Macrocytosis (MCV 112), because HB looked normal), but figured I'd stop them as well because they didn't do anything. Only the last 3 1/2 months did I find out it was PA. I bloody knew I felt anaemic, had no idea it could be a lack of B12.
I think its all very individual tbh. I've taken Thornes Basic B daily for a few years.......a few months back had tingling & some numbness in my toes. Then read about b6 toxicity. So I stopped them for a while. It went. I now only taked them 2-3xs per week now....despite needing daily b12 jabs. I think my guts are healing, absorbing better....as been. GF for about 4yrs. Sadly can't reduce frequency of b12 jabs though I do keep trying to!
I looked for a vit B blood test so could check levels.....but unfortunately it was £400. Yikes......too expensive for me!
Yes, I am with you in the upper limit toxicity. As we all know on this forum we all need varying doses of B12, I believe we all different, causes of PA, chemically & physically different, varying deficiencies over varying periods of time and this is why one shoe does not fit all and never will. It makes sense that toxicity levels will also be different between people. There is also the clause on most vitamins that they are only of use when a person is deficient. It also makes sense that we all have varying needs depending on an individual and their lifestyle. Thanks for the sources, lots to read.
And if you look further, you can find some arguing high, sometimes very high, doses of B6 are necessary for specific purposes. That is, used as a medicine, not to restore repletion.
I pass no opinion on that because I do not know enough. But it is possible that we do need to separate the two purposes.
I don't understand Helvella the point you are making? Its difficult to know when you can't afford the blood test to check where you are in the b6 range. So Ive had to make a guess. Am sure others if they have absorption issue do require higher.....but from recollection the b6 in Thornes Basic B is much higher than the recommended daily dose.
Not perfect and, I think, needs some updating, but interesting.
In the end, I think most of us only need low doses or even just dietary amounts. Some will need, maybe, up to 10 or 12 milligrams. But higher doses should be available for special purposes.
Thanks Helvella. That was a fascinating read. And very useful.
It says B6 is water soluble. I've just been cross checking this and all the b vits are water soluble.....so why I was told to be careful of b6 I don't know....this from doctors with an interest in nutrition......
So maybe the tingling/numbness in my toes is something else. E.g long term effect of chemo! It does vary. And during chemo my feet were numb.
Something being water soluble does not make it safe!
All it really means is that, unlike many fat soluble substances, it can be excreted - eventually. But that says nothing about its impact on the way through. Nor of what it can inter-react with and produce other substances.
Liothyronine is somewhat soluble in water. (Pubchem says in water, 3.958 mg/l at 37 °C - which would be a truly massive amount in terms of dosing.) But there's quite a number here who can attest to its effects on the way through at far lower doses!
helvella - Water Solubility and Safety
A blog post discussing what effect water solubility really has on the safety of supplements, medicines and other substances that are ingested.
I've read that it's not necessarily B6 itself, but a specific form common in supplements, namely pyridoxin, that may cause the problem. This form, in large doses, may block the active form, so that the symptoms of overdosing turn out to be exactly those of a deficiency.
Keep in mind that there are plenty of doctors claiming b12 to be toxic, dangerous and unnecessary too, and that any suggestion to restrict people's access to supplements with B6 can spread to any other vitamins as well. Which could make life difficult for those who need more B12 than their GP is willing to prescribe.
The easiest solution regarding B6 could be to simply use the P5P (pyridoxal 5 phosphate) form instead of, or mixed with, pyridoxin hydrochloride. And, of course, to not take more than necessary. But should it be restricted or should people be allowed to make informed choices on their own?
As someone who has to inject b12 daily am really aware of the erroneous ideas that doctors and pharmacists have around b12 having a toxicity level. I've already had it dtopped twice in one year.....despite nhs neurologist recommendation so you don't need to remind me!!! 🤣😅🙈🙈 lol
True, I guess it depends on how long you take high doses of supplements. I love the following Warnings from the Muscleze product, it looks like they clearly state that B6 may cause issues, oh also dietary supplements should not replace a balanced diet. I guess that means they are off the hook if any issues arise.
Warnings
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your health professional before use.
Stop taking this medication if you experience tingling, burning or numbness and see your healthcare practitioner as soon as possible [contains vitamin B6].
This product contains selenium which is toxic in high doses. A daily dose of 150 micrograms for adults of selenium from dietary supplements should not be exceeded.
If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.
Dietary supplements should not replace a balanced diet.
The doc could've been low in riboflavin B2, which is needed to process B6. Do you know the exact milligrams?. I take 20 mg a day for years and do I know people that do 200 mg a day and OK and then some only take 2 mg a day and are very sick.
I've put a photo of the contents of basic b up in post. I would've like to do a blood test for the b vits....but it's beyond my reach.....& obviously it's pointless for b12! But the rest would've been useful.
Thanks for posting this really good video. I think most doctors don't even know how dangerous B6 supplementation can be, and so they'll never suspect or test for elevated B6 levels in patients who may be suffering from this.
On the flip side I evidently need some degree of B6 above the RDA in order to be able to process the B12 properly (I assume as part of methylation). Having a 2 month break from B6 (plus advice around high dose folic acid) are evidently things that work for other people but are a disaster for me. I’m currently taking 10mg x3 B6 a week as a minimal helpful amount.
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It is not all in my head.
Doctor Appointment Tomorrow. Advice Much Appreciated!!
Covid crash, dropping vitamin levels, MCAS? 
