Penn Herb Wellness Guide
Vitamin B6Find Products
Vitamin B6 is the master vitamin for processing amino acids—the building blocks of all proteins and some hormones. Vitamin B6 helps to make and take apart many amino acids and is also needed to make the hormones, serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine.
- Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.
- Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.
- For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement,little scientific support.
Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.
For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.
This supplement has been used in connection with the following health conditions:
| Used for | Amount | Why |
|---|---|---|
Anemia | 2.5 to 25 mg daily for three weeks, then 1.5 to 2.5 mg per day as maintenance therapy |  [3 stars] Vitamin B6 deficiency can contribute to anemia, supplementing with this vitamin may restore levels and improve symptoms. |
Anemia and Genetic Vitamin B6-Responsive Anemia | 50 to 200 mg per day | [3 stars] Taking vitamin B6 may partially correct sideroblastic anemia, although they must be taken for life. |
Autism | 30 mg daily per 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of body weight;doctor's supervision recommended | [3 stars] Research shows that vitamin B6 can be helpful for autistic children. |
Depression | 20 mg twice daily | [3 stars] Oral contraceptives can deplete the body of vitamin B6, a nutrient needed for normal mental functioning. In such cases, vitamin B6 supplementation may improve mood. |
High Homocysteine (Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) | 400 to 1,000 mcg of folic acid daily, 10 to 50 mg of vitamin B6 daily, and 50 to 300 mcg of vitamin B12 daily | [3 stars] Vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12 all play a role in converting homocysteine to other substances within the body and have consistently lowered homocysteine levels in trials. |
Morning Sickness | 10 to 25 mg three times daily | [3 stars] In two double-blind trials, supplementation with vitamin B6 significantly reduced the severity of morning sickness. |
Neuropathy (Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) | 2,000 mcg methylcobalamin (B12); 3,000 mcg methylfolate (B9); and 35 mg pyridoxal 5-phosphate once to twice daily | [3 stars] B vitamins, and vitamin B12 in particular, may be helpful in treating various types of neuropathies. People with type 2 diabetes taking metformin should be monitored for B12 deficiency. |
Premenstrual Syndrome | 100 to 200 mg per day on a regular basis | [3 stars] Many clinical trials show that taking vitamin B6 helps relieve PMS symptoms. |
Type 1 Diabetes | 100 to 200 mg vitamin B6 daily | [3 stars] People with diabetes may have an increased need for vitamin B6. Supplementing with the vitamin may help maintain normal levels and prevent type 1 diabetes complications. |
Age-Related Cognitive Decline | 20 mg daily |  [2 stars] There is evidence that supplementing with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) may improve memory performance, especially in people who are deficient. |
Age-Related Cognitive Decline (Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) | Refer to label instructions | [2 stars] In women with cardiovascular disease or related risk factors and low dietary intake of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, supplementing with a combination of these nutrients may protect against age-related cognitive decline. |
Asthma | 100 to 200 mg daily | [2 stars] Vitamin B6 deficiency is common in asthmatics. Supplementing with the vitamin may decrease the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. |
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | 100 to 300 mg daily for no more than three months; 50 to 100 mg daily after that | [2 stars] Vitamin B6 deficiency is common in people with carpal tunnel syndrome, supplementing with the vitamin has reportedly relieved symptoms. |
Celiac Disease (Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) | 3 mg vitamin B6, 0.8 mg folic acid, and 0.5 mg vitamin B12 | [2 stars] Daily supplementation with a combination of vitamin B6 (3 mg), folic acid (0.8 mg), and vitamin B12 (0.5 mg) have been shown to help relieve depression in people with celiac disease. |
Depression and Premenstrual Syndrome | Take under medical supervision: 100 to 300 mg daily | [2 stars] Several studies indicate that supplementing with vitamin B6 helps alleviate depression, including depression associated with PMS. |
Intermittent Claudication (Alpha-Linolenic Acid, Fish Oil, Folic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin E) | 200 mg of EPA and 130 mg of DHA daily, plus small amounts of vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin E, oleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid | [2 stars] In one study, men with intermittent claudication who drank a milk product fortified with fish oil, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin E, oleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid could walk further without pain than those who drank regular milk. |
Low Back Pain (Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12) | Take under medical supervision: 50 to 100 mg each of vitamins B1 and B6, and 250 to 500 mcg of vitamin B12, all taken three times per day | [2 stars] A combination of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 may prevent a common type of back pain linked to vertebral syndromes and may reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medications. |
Macular Degeneration (Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) | 2.5 mg folic acid, 50 mg vitamin B6, and 1 mg vitamin B12 | [2 stars] In a double-blind study of female health professionals who had cardiovascular disease or risk factors, daily supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 significantly decreased age-related macular degeneration.
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MSG Sensitivity | Refer to label instructions | [2 stars] In one study, eight out of nine people stopped reacting to MSG when given vitamin B6. Many doctors suggest that people having MSG-sensitivity symptoms try supplementing with vitamin B6 for three months as a trial. |
Pregnancy and Postpartum Support and High Homocysteine | 750 mg daily taken under the supervision of a doctor | [2 stars] Women who habitually miscarry have been found to have high homocysteine levels. Vitamin B6 may reduce these levels and increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. |
Schizophrenia | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner | [2 stars] Vitamin B6 has been used in combination with niacin in the treatment of schizophrenia with some reported benefits. |
Schizophrenia and High Homocysteine (Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) | Take folic acid (2 mg), vitamin B6 (25 mg), and vitamin B12 (400 mcg) daily | [2 stars] People with schizophrenia who have high homocysteine levels may improve symptoms by supplementing with folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. |
Tooth Decay | For adults: 20 mg per day in capsules or lozenges; for children: 9 mg daily | [2 stars] Vitamin B6 appears to increase growth of beneficial mouth bacteria and decrease growth of cavity-causing bacteria. |
Type 2 Diabetes | 35 mg of pyridoxal 5-phosphate twice daily | [2 stars] People with type 2 diabetes, and especially those with diabetes complication, tend to have low levels of active vitamin B6, a nutrient needed for healthy metabolism. |
Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetic Neuropathy (Vitamin B1) | 25 mg of vitamin B1 daily, with 50 mg of vitamin B6 daily | Copyright © 1998–2024 Penn Herb Company, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The information on this website is not intended as a substitute for the medical recommendations of a physician. Rather, it is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Please see a qualified healthcare professional if you have questions regarding your health. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This web site contains links to web sites operated by other parties. Such links are provided for your convenience and reference only. We are not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. We reserve the right to cancel any order at any time. |