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Vitamin B6

A number of chemically related compounds are referred to as vitamin B6, namely pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine, as well as the associated coenzymes, such as pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxamine phosphate.

Pyridoxal and pyridoxamine are mainly found in foods of animal origin (liver, kidney, muscle meat, eggs, milk and dairy products), while pyridoxine is found in cereals, potatoes and leafy vegetables. In Germany, the main sources of vitamin B6 are potatoes, meat, sausages, bread, dairy products, fruit and vegetables, juices and poultry.

In the form of the coenzymes pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxamine phosphate, vitamin B6 is involved in numerous enzymatic reactions in metabolism, predominantly in amino acid metabolism and nucleotide synthesis. In addition, vitamin B6 influences functions of the nervous system, immune defence and haemoglobin synthesis.

Data from the National Food Consumption Study II show that in Germany, on average, more vitamin B6 is taken in with food than recommended by the nutrition societies. Only underweight people, older people with low food intake and people with permanently high alcohol consumption have an increased risk of suboptimal supply.

If high amounts of vitamin B6 are consumed over a long period of time, for example in the form of food supplements, this can lead to neurological disorders, especially neuropathies. In view of this, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has derived a maximum daily intake for vitamin B6 of 12 milligrams (mg) for adults. The value takes into account both the intake of the vitamin from normal foods and additional intakes from food supplements or fortified foods.

Proposed maximum level for the addition of vitamin B6 to food supplements (per daily dose of an individual product):

In order to allow consumers a significant additional nutrient intake via food supplements when needed and at the same time to protect well-supplied people from excessive intake, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) recommends not adding more than 0,9 mg of vitamin B6 per daily dose to a food supplement.

7/11/2023

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