Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, makes antibodies to fight off infection, regulates blood sugar, and helps your brain and nervous system work effectively. When vitamin B6 levels get too low, you can develop a deficiency. Here’s what can happen to your body when you’re deficient in vitamin B6.
Low vitamin B6 levels are associated with symptoms like confusion, brain fog, irritability, anxiety, and depression.
People who take vitamin B6 supplements may experience less anxiety and depression. This may be because the vitamin supports the nervous system, which helps the body regulate stress and tension.
People with extremely low levels of vitamin B6 may have mouth sores, cheilitis (cracked lips), and dryness around the mouth.
Some people may experience glossitis (inflammation of the tongue) and a painful, sore tongue.
Low vitamin B6 levels can cause a skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis. Symptoms include red, scaly, flaky, or greasy skin rashes that often appear on the back, face, or scalp. The skin may also slough off (shed) or appear irritated.
Vitamin B6 plays a significant role in producing hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that helps provide oxygen to body tissue.
A serious vitamin B6 deficiency can lead to a type of anemia known as microcytic anemia, which causes unusually small red blood cells.
Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating, weakness, headache, appetite loss, dizziness, and rapid heart rate, among others.
Because vitamin B6 helps protect nerve function, a vitamin B6 deficiency may cause nerve damage if left untreated. One possible outcome is peripheral neuropathy, damaged nerves in the arms, hands, and feet.
People with peripheral neuropathy may experience pins and needles sensations, such as tingling and prickling, in their extremities. They may also experience reduced reflexes, numbness, muscle weakness, and pain.
In severe cases, vitamin B6 deficiency can cause ataxia, which is a loss of muscle control. Signs include problems with balance and coordination, clumsiness, difficulty walking, and slurred speech.
The signs of vitamin B6 deficiency may be somewhat different in infants and young children.
Common vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms in infants include:
- Irritability and excessive crying
- Particularly sensitive, acute hearing
- Seizures
Contact a healthcare provider if you experience any of the above symptoms on an ongoing basis. They can perform a physical examination, review your medical history, and test your B6 levels through a serum (blood) test.
You may be at risk of vitamin B6 deficiency if you have conditions like:
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- An autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- A digestive disorder that affects your capacity to absorb nutrients from food, such as Crohn’s disease
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
- Obesity
- Other vitamin B deficiencies
Treatment for a vitamin B6 deficiency will vary depending on the individual.
Your provider may recommend eating more B6-rich foods, taking a vitamin B6 or B-complex supplement, treating any underlying medical conditions that impair B6 absorption, or a combination of these approaches.
