Body making too much Vitamin B6

Posted by granolamama @granolamama, Feb 15, 2019

I had many labs done this week in an attempt to figure out why I am dealing with chronic muscle and joint pain, and severe exhaustion and weakness. The results came back showing that my B6 (normal range is 2-20) is 116. I do take one supplement each evening, and my doctor said it’s far less than she even takes, and in no way would account for such a number. She is completely confused, saying she has never seen such a thing, and couldn’t even come up with any info on it. She will spend some time meeting with other doctors this weekend to brain storm.
I’m wondering if anyone has experienced this, or has any info. I am googling like a mad woman, and the only info I can find is about people taking too much B6 in supplement form, and the dangers of it in their system. Nothing whatsoever about a person’s body making too much. Ideas?

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@carolinlv

I do not drink energy drinks of any type. I drink water. I’m 72 years old and six months ago, an endoscopy showed an ulcer so I’ve been on an even more basic diet for that. My diet was already pretty basic, as I’m trying to get my gastrointestinal system right through foods. my body really doesn’t love medication and if there is a side effect to be had, I will have it. I don’t eat red meat, I eat a little chicken, but honestly, I’m so weary of it I don’t eat much of that either. I live in Nevada, so finding good fish is close to impossible, so that’s a no also. For a while I was eating a lot of tuna, but I got tired of that, too. I take no supplements at all. I take one blood pressure medication and one statin and that’s it. So it seems that wherever I am getting vitamin B6, my body wants to store it for some reason. Does that sound like reasonable thinking?

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It definitely sounds like you are doing everything to keep it from going up more. B6 is different from other B vitamins in the way the body uses it from what I’ve read. I think it takes longer to get rid of high levels.

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@johnbishop

It definitely sounds like you are doing everything to keep it from going up more. B6 is different from other B vitamins in the way the body uses it from what I’ve read. I think it takes longer to get rid of high levels.

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I’m really having a hard time finding information on this other than stating you can only have excess B6 from
supplements and food. That’s obviously not true. Don’t know what I’m missing here🤷‍♀️ Thanks, John!

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I just received bloodwork back that showed B6 plasma high and mine is only 24.6… drop in the bucket compared to yours! I’ve been reading about it too and feel like it’s responsible for my peripheral neuropathy (Or hoping it is because maybe that means it’s more manageable🤷‍♀️) like you, I’ve also read that you can only get it through an excess of the supplements and foods containing B6. Our bodies do not produce it. I guess this means our bodies are not metabolizing it properly, but storing it up??? Now we need to figure out how to make our bodies use it or get rid of it. As I said, I don’t seem to be able to find much info on this. I’m going to keep looking and hope something surfaces. I can’t wait to see my doctor or maybe even talk to a nutritionist. I’m at my wits end. It’s something every week.😭😭 good luck and keep posting! Maybe we’ll find help somewhere!🙏🏻🙏🏻🤞🏻

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@carolinlv

I’m really having a hard time finding information on this other than stating you can only have excess B6 from
supplements and food. That’s obviously not true. Don’t know what I’m missing here🤷‍♀️ Thanks, John!

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This is the 3rd tip mentioned on an article on how to lower B6. I think you are already doing the first 2 tips shared...

"Step 3
Drink water to help flush excess vitamin B6 from the body. Since this compound is water-soluble, urine is the primary means of excretion, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Typically, it takes the body between 15 and 25 days to eliminate unused pyridoxine. Drink eight, 8-oz. glasses of water per day as part of a healthy diet."
-- How to Lower B6: https://www.livestrong.com/article/522968-how-to-lower-b6/

Here's an easy to understand site on B6 Toxicity - https://www.easy-immune-health.com/vitamin-b6-toxicity.html

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Well, that’s an easy fix-more water seems to help everything… I can do that👍 And thank you for the helpful links!

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@carolinlv

I do not drink energy drinks of any type. I drink water. I’m 72 years old and six months ago, an endoscopy showed an ulcer so I’ve been on an even more basic diet for that. My diet was already pretty basic, as I’m trying to get my gastrointestinal system right through foods. my body really doesn’t love medication and if there is a side effect to be had, I will have it. I don’t eat red meat, I eat a little chicken, but honestly, I’m so weary of it I don’t eat much of that either. I live in Nevada, so finding good fish is close to impossible, so that’s a no also. For a while I was eating a lot of tuna, but I got tired of that, too. I take no supplements at all. I take one blood pressure medication and one statin and that’s it. So it seems that wherever I am getting vitamin B6, my body wants to store it for some reason. Does that sound like reasonable thinking?

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I find it interesting that you have an ulcer, and diet doesn't seem to be contributing factor. What little I understand of the biology/biochemistry, is that our bodies need very little B6, and our gut microbiome is key to getting it from food sources to be stored in the body (liver?) where it is used for other metabolic needs.
As we age our bodies do undergo a lot of changes not well understood by medical science...yet
Statins can also cause neuropathy (as does excess B6) Some alternatives are to discuss statin dose and form (fat soluble v water soluble) versus alternatives with your doctor, if neuropathy is one of the issues. Our biology is complex and often genetics plays a role that is not clearly delineated yet.

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@terry1976

I find it interesting that you have an ulcer, and diet doesn't seem to be contributing factor. What little I understand of the biology/biochemistry, is that our bodies need very little B6, and our gut microbiome is key to getting it from food sources to be stored in the body (liver?) where it is used for other metabolic needs.
As we age our bodies do undergo a lot of changes not well understood by medical science...yet
Statins can also cause neuropathy (as does excess B6) Some alternatives are to discuss statin dose and form (fat soluble v water soluble) versus alternatives with your doctor, if neuropathy is one of the issues. Our biology is complex and often genetics plays a role that is not clearly delineated yet.

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My gut microbiome has been a nightmare for many years. I was given a shot of antibiotics far greater than what I needed at an urgent care facility about seven years ago. I contracted CDiff, which was an absolute nightmare. I can honestly say my gut has not been the same since. It’s something I work on constantly, yet it still gives me many problems. I have a very good GP so I will bring up the statin question when I see him soon. My bloodwork showed the best cholesterol number I’ve had in years, and landing on rosuvastatin took a while so I hope it’s not a problem. Thank you for the information!

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@carolinlv

My gut microbiome has been a nightmare for many years. I was given a shot of antibiotics far greater than what I needed at an urgent care facility about seven years ago. I contracted CDiff, which was an absolute nightmare. I can honestly say my gut has not been the same since. It’s something I work on constantly, yet it still gives me many problems. I have a very good GP so I will bring up the statin question when I see him soon. My bloodwork showed the best cholesterol number I’ve had in years, and landing on rosuvastatin took a while so I hope it’s not a problem. Thank you for the information!

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What dose of statin are you taking to get such a great number?

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@celia16

What dose of statin are you taking to get such a great number?

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I took rosuvastatin. I was down to 2 1/2 mg daily after starting at 5 mg. Since this post, I have stopped taking statins altogether. I see my cardiologist this Tuesday and hoping he agrees with my GP that I can take a break and do another blood test in six months to see if my diet alone will give me the same results.

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@carolinlv

I took rosuvastatin. I was down to 2 1/2 mg daily after starting at 5 mg. Since this post, I have stopped taking statins altogether. I see my cardiologist this Tuesday and hoping he agrees with my GP that I can take a break and do another blood test in six months to see if my diet alone will give me the same results.

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I’ll likely keep taking it. My PCP and Endo really want me on a statin, since it really reduces heart events. With type 1 diabetes, I need that protection.

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