Vitamin B6 – Deficiency Symptoms, Food Source, Health Benefit

Last updated: February 7, 2026Reviewed date: February 7, 2026Reading time: 11 min read

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Vitamin B6 refers to a group of chemically similar compounds which can be interconverted in biological systems. Vitamin B6 is part of the vitamin B group of essential nutrients. Its active form, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, serves as a coenzyme in some 100 enzyme reactions in amino acid,...

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Article Summary

Key Takeaways

This article explains Deficiency Symptoms of Vitamin B6 in simple medical language.
This article explains Recommended Intakes of Vitamin B6 in simple medical language.
This article explains Food Source of Vitamin B6 in simple medical language.
This article explains Health Benefit of Vitamin B6 in simple medical language.

Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.

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Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
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Definition

Vitamin B₆ refers to a group of chemically similar compounds which can be interconverted in biological systems. Vitamin B₆ is part of the vitamin B group of essential nutrients. Its active form, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, serves as a coenzyme in some 100 enzyme reactions in amino acid, glucose, and lipid metabolize vitamin B6 in coenzyme forms performs a wide variety of functions in the body and is extremely versatile, with involvement in more than 100 enzyme reactions, mostly concerned with protein metabolism. Both PLP and PMP are involved in amino acid metabolism, and PLP is also involved in the metabolism of one-carbon units, carbohydrates, and lipids.

Vitamin B6 also plays a role in cognitive development through the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters and in maintaining normal levels of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood. Vitamin B6 is involved in gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, immune function (for example, it promotes lymphocyte and interleukin-2 production), and hemoglobin formation. The human body absorbs vitamin B6 in the jejunum. Phosphorylated forms of the vitamin are dephosphorylated, and the pool of free vitamin B6 is absorbed by passive diffusion.

Deficiency Symptoms of Vitamin B6

fatigue
depression
irritability
insomnia
stomach pains
tiredness
apathy
depression
sleep disorders
nausea -vomiting
numbness
muscle cramps
hypoglycemia
burning feet
upper respiratory infections
vomiting
burning feet
upper respiratory infections
muscle cramps
seborrhoeic dermatitis-like eruption
atrophic glossitis with ulceration
angular cheilitis,
conjunctivitis
intertrigo,
neurologic
symptoms of somnolence,
confusion
pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. সহজ বাংলা: স্নায়ুর ক্ষতি/সমস্যা।" data-rx-term="neuropathy" data-rx-definition="Neuropathy means nerve damage or irritation causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. সহজ বাংলা: স্নায়ুর ক্ষতি/সমস্যা।">neuropathy (due to impaired sphingosine synthesis)
sideroblastic anemia (due to impaired heme synthesis)
metabolic disease associated with the insufficient activity of the coenzyme PLP
The most prominent of the lesions is due to impaired tryptophan–niacin conversion.
This can be detected based on urinary excretion of xanthurenic acid after an oral tryptophan load.
Vitamin B₆ deficiency can also result in impaired transsulfuration of methionine to cysteine.
The PLP-dependent transaminases and glycogen phosphorylase provide the vitamin with its role in gluconeogenesis, so deprivation of vitamin B₆ results in impaired glucose tolerance.

Recommended Intakes of Vitamin B6

Intake recommendations for vitamin B6 and other nutrients are provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the FNB. DRI is the general term for a set of reference values used for planning and assessing nutrient intakes of healthy people. These values, which vary by age and gender, include:

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) – Average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%–98%) healthy individuals; often used to plan nutritionally adequate diets for individuals.
Adequate Intake (AI) – Intake at this level is assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy; established when evidence is insufficient to develop an RDA.
Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) – Average daily level of intake estimated to meet the requirements of 50% of healthy individuals; usually used to assess the nutrient intakes of groups of people and to plan nutritionally adequate diets for them; can also be used to assess the nutrient intakes of individuals.
Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) – Maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects.

Table 1 lists the current RDAs for vitamin B6 . For infants from birth to 12 months, the FNB established an AI for vitamin B6 that is equivalent to the mean intake of vitamin B6 in healthy, breastfed infants.

**Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Vitamin B6**
Age	Male	Female	Pregnancy	Lactation
Birth to 6 months	0.1 mg*	0.1 mg*
7–12 months	0.3 mg*	0.3 mg*
1–3 years	0.5 mg	0.5 mg
4–8 years	0.6 mg	0.6 mg
9–13 years	1.0 mg	1.0 mg
14–18 years	1.3 mg	1.2 mg	1.9 mg	2.0 mg
19–50 years	1.3 mg	1.3 mg	1.9 mg	2.0 mg
51+ years	1.7 mg	1.5 mg

* Adequate Intake (AI)

Food Source of Vitamin B6

**Selected Food Sources of Vitamin B6**
Food	Milligrams (mg) per serving	Percent DV
Chickpeas, canned, 1 cup	1.1	55
Beef liver, pan fried, 3 ounces	0.9	45
Tuna, yellowfin, fresh, cooked, 3 ounces	0.9	45
Salmon, sockeye, cooked, 3 ounces	0.6	30
Chicken breast, roasted, 3 ounces	0.5	25
Breakfast cereals, fortified with 25% of the DV for vitamin B6	0.5	25
Potatoes, boiled, 1 cup	0.4	20
Turkey, meat only, roasted, 3 ounces	0.4	20
Banana, 1 medium	0.4	20
Marinara (spaghetti) sauce, ready to serve, 1 cup	0.4	20
Ground beef, patty, 85% lean, broiled, 3 ounces	0.3	15
Waffles, plain, ready to heat, toasted, 1 waffle	0.3	15
Bulgur, cooked, 1 cup	0.2	10
Cottage cheese, 1% low-fat, 1 cup	0.2	10
Squash, winter, baked, ½ cup	0.2	10
Rice, white, long-grain, enriched, cooked, 1 cup	0.1	5
Nuts, mixed, dry-roasted, 1 ounce	0.1	5
Raisins, seedless, ½ cup	0.1	5
Onions, chopped, ½ cup	0.1	5
Spinach, frozen, chopped, boiled, ½ cup	0.1	5
Tofu, raw, firm, prepared with calcium sulfate, ½ cup	0.1	5
Watermelon, raw, 1 cup	0.1	5

DV = Daily Value. DVs were developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help consumers compare the nutrient contents of products within the context of a total diet. The DV for vitamin B6 is 2 mg for adults and children age 4 and older. However, the FDA does not require food labels to list vitamin B6 content unless a food has been fortified with this nutrient. Foods providing 20% or more of the DV are considered to be high sources of a nutrient.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Nutrient Database lists the nutrient content of many foods and provides a comprehensive list of foods containing vitamin B6 arranged by nutrient content and by food name.

Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for Vitamin B6 [1rx]
Age	Male	Female	Pregnancy	Lactation
Birth to 6 months	Not possible to establish*	Not possible to establish*
7–12 months	Not possible to establish*	Not possible to establish*
1–3 years	30 mg	30 mg
4–8 years	40 mg	40 mg
9–13 years	60 mg	60 mg
14–18 years	80 mg	80 mg	80 mg	80 mg
19+ years	100 mg	100 mg	100 mg	100 mg

*Breast milk, formula, and food should be the only sources of vitamin B6 for infants.

Health Benefit of Vitamin B6

Anemia (sideroblastic anemia) – Taking pyridoxine by mouth is effective for treating an inherited type of anemia called sideroblastic anemia.
Certain seizures in infants (pyridoxine-dependent seizures) – Administering pyridoxine intravenously (by IV) controls seizures in infants that are caused by pyridoxine dependence.
Pyridoxine deficiency – Taking pyridoxine by mouth is effective for preventing and treating pyridoxine deficiency.
High homocysteine blood levels – Taking pyridoxine by mouth alone or together with folic acid is effective for treating high homocysteine levels in the blood.
Macular degeneration – Some research shows that taking pyridoxine with other vitamins including folic acid and vitamin B12 might help prevent the loss of vision caused by the eye disease called age-related macular degeneration.
Behavior disorder in children caused by low serotonin levels (hyperkinetic cerebral dysfunction syndrome) – Early research shows that taking pyridoxine by mouth might have a beneficial effect on children with a behavior disorder caused by low serotonin levels.
High blood pressure – Early research suggests that taking pyridoxine can lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure
Kidney stones – There is some evidence that taking pyridoxine alone or combined with magnesium can decrease the risk of kidney stones in people with a hereditary disorder that increases their risk of forming kidney stones (type I primary hyperoxaluria). However, it does not appear to help people with other kinds of kidney stones.
Lung cancer – Taking pyridoxine by mouth seems to decrease the risk of lung cancer in individuals who smoke.
Upset stomach and vomiting in pregnancy – Some research suggests pyridoxine does not improve symptoms of mild to moderate nausea as much as severe nausea. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology considers pyridoxine a first-line treatment for nausea and vomiting caused by pregnancy. Pyridoxine plus the medication doxylamine is recommended for women who do not get better when treated with just pyridoxine.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) – There is some evidence that taking pyridoxine by mouth can improve PMS symptoms including breast pain. The lowest effective dose should be used. Higher doses will increase the chance of side effects and are not likely to increase the beneficial effects.
Movement disorders (tardive dyskinesia) –Taking pyridoxine seems to improve movement disorders in people taking drugs for mental disorders.
Alzheimer’s disease – Some evidence suggests that taking pyridoxine supplements does not reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in older people.
Autism – Taking pyridoxine with magnesium daily does not seem to improve autistic behavior in children.
Carpal tunnel syndrome – Although some early research suggests that pyridoxine might relieve certain symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, most research suggests that this supplement does not benefit people with this condition.
Mental function – Taking pyridoxine daily together with folic acid and vitamin B12 does not seem to improve mental function in older people.
Stroke – Taking pyridoxine by mouth does not seem to prevent the occurrence of another stoke in people with a history of stroke.
Preventing re-blockage of blood vessels after angioplasty – Evidence on the benefits of pyridoxine for preventing the re-blockage of blood vessels after angioplasty is inconsistent. Some evidence suggests that taking folic acid, vitamin B12 and pyridoxine might be beneficial. However, other research finds no benefit.
Asthma. The effectiveness of pyridoxine supplementation in children with asthma is unclear.
Itchy and inflamed skin (atopic dermatitis (eczema)) – Early research suggests that taking pyridoxine daily for 4 weeks does not reduce eczema symptoms in children.
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – Early research suggests that taking pyridoxine by mouth, with or without high doses of B vitamins, might help ADHD. However, research using high doses of both pyridoxine and vitamins seems to have no effect on ADHD symptoms.
Depression – Early research suggests that taking pyridoxine might reduce depression symptoms in postmenopausal women but not in the general population.
Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) – Early research suggests that taking pyridoxine daily might reduce painful periods.
Nerve problems caused by insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes – Evidence on the effects of pyridoxine in people with nerve problems caused by insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes is inconsistent. Some research shows that taking pyridoxine with thiamine daily reduces the severity of symptoms, while other research shows no benefit.
High blood sugar during pregnancy (gestational insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes) – Some early research suggests that taking pyridoxine daily for 2 weeks may lower sugar levels in women with high blood sugar during pregnancy. However other early research shows no benefit of pyridoxine on this condition.
Nerve damage caused by tuberculosis medication – Early research suggests that taking pyridoxine daily might reduce nerve damage caused by a drug taken for tuberculosis.
Stopping breast milk production – Early research suggests that taking pyridoxine daily for 6-7 days does not stop breast milk production.
Complications in pregnancy – Taking pyridoxine during pregnancy does not seem to reduce the risk of eclampsia, pre-eclampsia, or preterm birth, but may reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Seizures caused by a high fever (seizures) – Early research suggests that taking pyridoxine daily for 12 months does not reduce the recurrence of seizures caused by a high fever.
Nerve damage caused by chemotherapy – Early research suggests that pyridoxine might help reverse nerve damage caused by the chemotherapy drug vincristine.
Boosting the immune system.
Muscle cramps.
Eye problems.
Kidney problems.
Night leg cramps.
pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">Arthritis.
Allergies.
Lyme disease.

Possible Interactions

If you are being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use vitamin B6 supplements without talking to your health care provider first.

Medicines that reduce levels of B6 in the body . If you take any of these medications, be sure to get enough B6 in your diet:

Cycloserine (Seromycin), used to treat tuberculosis
Hydralazine (Apresoline), used to treat high blood pressure
Isoniazid, used to treat tuberculosis
Penicillamine, used to treat RA
Theophylline (TheoDur), used to treat asthma

Antibiotics, tetracycline: All B complex vitamins, including vitamin B6, interfere with the absorption and effectiveness of bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।" data-rx-term="antibiotic" data-rx-definition="An antibiotic is a medicine used to treat bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।">antibiotic tetracycline. You should take tetracycline at different times from vitamin B6 and other B vitamins.

Antidepressant medications: Taking vitamin B6 supplements may improve the effectiveness of some tricyclic antidepressants such as nortriptyline (Pamelor), especially in elderly people. Other tricyclic antidepressants include amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), and imipramine (Tofranil). On the other hand, antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) may reduce blood levels of vitamin B6. Examples of MAOIs include phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate).

Amiodarone (Cordarone): This drug, used to treat an irregular heartbeat, makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Taking vitamin B6 along with this medication may increase your risk of sunburn, blistering, or a rash.

Chemotherapy drugs: Vitamin B6 may reduce certain side effects of 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin, medications used to treat cancer. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement if you are undergoing chemotherapy.

Erythropoietin (EPO): Erythropoietin therapy, used to treat severe anemia, may decrease vitamin B6 levels in red blood cells.

Levodopa (L-dopa): Vitamin B6 reduces the effectiveness of levodopa, a medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease. However, it does not seem to have the same effect on the combination of levodopa and carbidopa. Your doctor may be able to determine a dose of B6 that can safely help reduce the side effects of levodopa. You should only take vitamin B6 along with levodopa under your doctor’s supervision.

Phenytoin (Dilantin): Vitamin B6 makes phenytoin, a medication used to treat seizures, less effective.

Precautions

You should take dietary supplements only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications.

Very high doses, 200 mg or more per day, of vitamin B6, can cause neurological disorders, such as loss of feeling in the legs and imbalance. Stopping high doses usually leads to complete recovery within 6 months.

There have been rare reports of allergic skin reactions to high doses of vitamin B6 supplements.

Other side effects can include:

Sensitivity to sunlight
Headache
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite

References

Vitamin B6 - Deficiency Symptoms, Food Source, Health Benefit

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

Write when the problem started and how it changed.
Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
Basic physical examination by a clinician
CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

Drink safe fluids and monitor temperature.
In dengue-prone areas, discuss CBC and platelet count when fever persists or warning signs appear.
Use tepid sponging for high fever discomfort; avoid ice-cold bathing.

OTC medicine safety

For fever, common fever medicine may be discussed with a clinician or pharmacist.
Avoid aspirin/ibuprofen-like medicines in suspected dengue unless a doctor says it is safe.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

Fever with breathing difficulty, confusion, repeated vomiting, bleeding, severe weakness, stiff neck, or dehydration needs urgent care.

Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Medicine doctor / pediatrician for children / qualified clinician

Tests to discuss with doctor

Temperature chart and hydration assessment
CBC with platelet count if fever persists or dengue/other infection is possible
Urine test, malaria/dengue tests, chest evaluation, or blood culture only when clinically indicated

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
Which tests are really needed now?
Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?
Do I need antibiotics, or is this more likely viral?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Go to emergency care if you notice:

Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration

Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.

Step 1
Check danger signs first

If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.
Step 2
Record the symptom story

Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.
Step 3
Visit a qualified clinician

A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.
Step 4
Do only useful tests

Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.
Step 5
Follow up and return early if worse

If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips

Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.