The excess of vitamin B6 usually arises in people who supplement the vitamin without the recommendation of a nutritionist, and it is very rare to happen only through eating foods rich in the vitamin, such as salmon, bananas or potatoes. See which foods have the most vitamin B6.
This is because, in order to show symptoms of vitamin B6 intoxication, it is necessary to consume more than 500 to 3000 times the recommended daily dose, which is quite difficult with food alone.
Vitamin B6 is very important for keeping nerves and muscle cells healthy, so it is recommended that each adult take between 1 and 2 mg per day. However, when this amount is well above 3000 mg for more than 2 months, the vitamin can damage the nerves, causing symptoms such as:
- Tingling in the hands and feet; Cramps and muscle spasms; Severe headache; Nausea and loss of appetite; Increased blood pressure; Excessive tiredness; Difficulty sleeping; Sudden changes in mood.
These symptoms usually disappear 1 to 2 weeks after the vitamin intake is reduced, leaving no sequelae.
However, in cases where the excess of vitamin is maintained for several months, permanent nerve damage can occur, causing sequelae such as difficulty walking, constant pain in the legs and weakness of the muscles.
How to treat excess vitamin B6
Treatment for excess vitamin B6 is done by reducing or interrupting the vitamin intake, and the symptoms disappear after a few weeks. However, when there are permanent nerve injuries, it may be necessary to undergo physical therapy, for example, to deal with the sequelae and improve the quality of life.
When it is necessary to take supplements
Vitamin B6 supplements are recommended to treat various health problems, such as depression, frequent nausea, PMS symptoms, carpal tunnel syndrome and even to relieve symptoms of oral contraceptive use.
However, the use of this type of supplements must always be guided and supervised by a doctor or nutritionist, since they need to be used in high amounts, often exceeding 2000 mg and, therefore, it is important to be aware of the appearance of symptoms of excess vitamin, to adequate the dose, if necessary.
