Natural high levels of B12 and B6

Always an interesting topic …

My B6 on 10/18 was 114.1; therefore, high. I have been taking an EB-N5 script for the past several months, containing (among other nutrients) pyridoxal phosphate (P5P) but not pyridoxine hydrochloride; also, a number of supplements (B6, B-Complex, a multi, etc.) daily. My neurologist suggested I halve my daily EB-N5 dosage and quit taking the supplements for the rest of 2023 to see if my B6 level (taking only P5P) would come down. Last Thursday, I got new labs but have not yet received the results.

As a footnote: I have idiopathic sensory-motor PN (balance and walking issues, but no pain).

Ray (@ray666)

I have neuropathy mostly feet and ankles, some in forearms and prickly face. Cold feet major symptom.
Take Magnesium , alpha lipoid acid, omega 3 fatty acids , a b complex without b6 (just started). Vitamin d., probiotic.
Use assorted creams with arnica, magnesium, lidocaine, aloe. I do foot massage, use warming pad, and a vibrating foot pad.

My B6 blood level if 58.

I see references in posts about high blood b6 levels and neuropathy.

What is a high level?
What level is low enough to reduce symptoms?

Any information is appreciated.

@chme, I moved your questions about neuropathy and levels of B6 to this related and recent discussion:
- Natural high levels of B12 and B6: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/natural-high-levels-of-b12-and-b6

I encourage you to click the link and read previous posts. You'll also be able to connect with @patriciaschulz1950 @ray666 @johnbishop @dbeshears1 @zav @bb0753 who have relevant experiences, knowledge and references.

Chme, is your doctor concerned about your B6 level?

I wish I had someone who understands this issue better.
I have good B12 levels and B1 levels but high B6. 66.2

I’ve found a b supplement without b6 and just started taking. It’s from Desert Harvest. B complex without b6.

Will wait to retest blood level for 6 months. Seems to be a good deal of at least references to b6 toxicity but no information on what a blood level for toxicity would be.

Thank you.

Hi @chme, I think your question may not have a clear definitive answer mostly because I think it may be a little different for each of us due to other factors including age. This article may help explain it:
--- Vitamin B6 - Fact Sheet for Consumers: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-Consumer/

This reference mentions toxicity levels:
"Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) causes neuropathy at intakes of 1000 mg per day or more, which is about 800 times the daily intake from foods. There have also been occasional reports of toxicity at intakes of 100-300 mg per day. The US authorities set the no-observed-adverse-effect-level at 200 mg per day and the safe upper limit at 100 mg per day. A report of neurotoxicity in 2 patients who had taken 24 mg and 40 mg of vitamin B6 per day respectively, may be coincidence rather than a true toxic effect of such relatively low doses. However, physicians need to remain alert to high intakes of vitamin B6 as a cause of unexplained neuropathy."
--- How much vitamin B6 is toxic?: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16320662/

Where can I find the blood levels of b6 which might be toxic. Most articles talk about intake but don’t relate to blood level measurements.

Hello, @chme. I'd be happy to talk to you about my experiences with B6, although, in terms of insight, I'm still somewhere between a new PN patient's ignorance and a veteran PN patient's reasonable understanding. My neurologist invited me to take the "medicinal food" known as EB-N5, which contains B6 in its water-soluble form, pyridoxal phosphate (the non-toxic form, as I've been assured), unlike the potentially toxic form, pyridoxine hydrochloride, found in supplements (although normally in small doses). I've been taking EB-N5 for 8-9 months, and although I still have balance problems as my only PN symptom (no pain), it hasn't worsened. If you've questions, I'm happy to try giving my best answers. Best of everything to you!

Ray (@ray666)

Thank you. I do have a neurologist appointment in a couple months. I will ask questions about B6 and its forms. I have not found drs much interested or trained in nutrition. I am pretty rural and functional medicine practitioners are non existent.
I try to look at what others have tried and apply what I think is realistic and practical.
I am grateful too not to have substantial pain involved. Distracting and irritating.
Do you monitor Blood B6? Or evaluate by symptoms.

Thank you for caring. I’ll be reaching EB-N5.

Hello again, @chme

I, too, have found doctors to be a little wanting when it comes to nutritional matters. Even the clinicians in my neurologist's office seem somewhat vague when it comes to replying to questions about B6. The links @johnbisjop has sent make for good reading. EB-N5 has a website; unfortunately, all you'll find is glossy marketing material. However, I do trust the product's underlying substance.

Cheers!
Ray

I guess I need to get my B6 level checked.