Vit B6 ...... too much ? : Hi - I have recently... - Thyroid UK

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Vit B6 ...... too much ?

jamjar67 profile image
10 Replies

Hi - I have recently started taking Hydro-Zyme for low stomach acid, I am experiencing muscle wastage, I lost a stone starting levothyroxine in 2 weeks (that was in October 18) and am not putting any weight on despite eating plenty.

The FMP advised me to start on 2 tablets a day working up to 15 split between 3 meals over a 4 week period and then I’ll swap to a different product which is stronger so I’ll take less tablets. I have undigested food in my poop!!, so am perhaps not absorbing protein 🤔

My concern is the hydrozyme contains B6 and so does my B complex - Would this mean I’m taking too much B6? Should I perhaps stop the B vits whilst taking the Hydrozyme and just get some B12 on it’s own?

I know from my last post that I’m undermedicated and will be asking my Dr for an increase this week.

In advance Thankyou for any advice.

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jamjar67
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

jamjar67

Too much B6 over a period of time can cause tingling of the extremities and other neurological problems. It's recommended to supplement no more than 10mg daily on a regular basis, so it depends on how much B6 is in your B Complex and how long you are going to be supplementing both.

jamjar67 profile image
jamjar67 in reply toSeasideSusie

This is the protocol which spans 4 weeks (B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner)

Each tablet has 2mg of B6

Day 1, 2 & 3

1B. 0L. 1D

Day 4, 5 & 6

1B. 1L. 2D

Day 7, 8 & 9

2B. 2L. 2D

Day 10, 11 & 12

2B. 3L 3D

Day 13, 14 & 15

3B. 3L. 3D

Day 16, 17 & 18

4B. 4L 4D

Day 19, 20 & 21

5B. 5L. 5D

Then I change to Betaine + HCL which is stronger so less tablets!! I can then make sure I don’t have any B6 in the product...

The current B complex pictured above has 43mg of B6 so that’s already over!

I’ve just bought a new B complex which has 20.56mg B6 & I also bought one for my daughter which has 18mg...... so they are all above the RDA which I don’t understand why they put more than what’s good for you in it?

Maybe I should give the B’s a rest whilst doing the protocol (but take B12 separately) and after the protocol just take the supplement every 2nd day?

Many Thanks 🙏

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply tojamjar67

Possibly, as it's only temporary, a higher dose wont be a problem. It's long term excess B6 that causes problems. If you have any symptoms then stop (you can google for symptoms of excess B6).

The NHS website says

Taking doses of 10 to 200mg a day for short periods may not cause any harm. But there's not enough evidence to say how long these doses could be taken for safely.

jamjar67 profile image
jamjar67 in reply toSeasideSusie

Thanks..., think I’ll have a break from the complex and just take the B12 for now..., hopefully if the stomach acid supplement works I will absorb the nutrients from food and then I can just take B complex every few days as insurance..., thanks for your help and really glad I asked ! X

MiniMum97 profile image
MiniMum97

I also found a paper the other day where women taking b6 in fairly low doses had excess b6 in the blood and developed burning mouth syndrome. I may have this so have stopped my b complex for now just in case.

jomos.org/articles/mbcb/pdf...

jamjar67 profile image
jamjar67 in reply toMiniMum97

Oh wow!! Seems like the thing to do is keep having breaks... I wonder if it’s just the B6 or all the B vits that potentially can build up..., B12 is ok because getting that checked...., I’ll have a look at that paper later...Many Thanks!! X

humanbean profile image
humanbean

What is an FMP?

I am wondering why the person advising you doesn't just tell you to take a B Complex with a higher dose of ingredients, rather than taking 15 a day of the one you've shown in your post. Is it possible they are getting commission for selling vast quantities of B Complex?

I took a very high dose B Complex nearly a decade ago. I developed peripheral neuropathy which is a known effect of vitamin B6 toxicity, and the B Complex I was taking contained 100mg per capsule. Luckily I realised that something was going wrong, did some research, realised the B6 in my B Complex might be to blame and stopped taking it. It took a few months for the neuropathy to go away, but luckily I did recover completely. Apparently if people continue to take high doses of B6 despite the neuropathy the problem may become permanent. I would never take such a high dose B Complex again.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitam...

For info on Betaine HCl these links are worth reading :

scdlifestyle.com/2012/06/hy...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/ho...

scdlifestyle.com/2013/10/4-...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

jamjar67 profile image
jamjar67 in reply tohumanbean

Thank you for all the info...FMP - Functional Medical Practitioner..., I probably haven’t been clear, she advised the Hydro-Zyme (image on the right), I started the B complex (image on the left) as was advised to me when I first posted on this site when I was initially diagnosed... I’m really glad I asked though!! Thanks so much for the warning and all the info x

jamjar67 profile image
jamjar67 in reply tohumanbean

These are great articles 👍👍

jamjar67 profile image
jamjar67

Sorry I probably haven’t been clear, FMP advised the Hydro-Zyme (image on the right), I started the B complex (image on the left) as was advised to me when I first posted on this site when I was initially diagnosed... I was unsure of taking the two in conjunction with one another and I’m really glad I asked now..., I was thinking with B vits you just peed out what the body doesn’t need!! Thanks for your reply x

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