A pharmacy group has warned of the dangers of taking too much synthetic vitamin B6, a substance contained in more than 1,500 products on Australian shelves.
The warning comes after the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced it would tighten regulation around the sale of products containing B6 from 2027.
Overdoses of the ingredient have been linked to nerve issues, including peripheral neuropathy—a disease which can damage the nerves, cause numbness, weakness and pain.
The TGA says it has received 170 reports through its Database of Adverse Event Notifications of nerve-related illness linked to the use of supplements containing B6.
Health complications are most likely to result from long-term, high-dose use, and do not arise from natural B6 consumption.
Natural B6 is found in many meats, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts.
A spokesperson for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia told The Epoch Times that B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a widely used product.
“Vitamin B6 is contained in over 1500 different products, often with labelling which is unclear or confusing to consumers, which compounds risk for those taking multiple supplements who may not be aware of how much vitamin B6 they are ingesting,” they said.
New TGA rules will mean products containing high doses of synthetic B6 will only be available through a professional.
“PSA supports the TGA’s interim decision to make products containing more than 50mg of pyridoxine as Schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only) by Feb. 2027,” the spokesperson said.
“This will mean consumers speaking to the pharmacist to access these types of products.
“We recommend always speaking to your pharmacist before you start taking any new medicine, including complementary medicines like vitamins and supplements. Pharmacists are medicine safety experts and can work with you to make sure your medicines are safe and effective.”
Warnings come as the ABC aired a special 7.30 episode on the growing concern around synthetic B6 being a bigger risk to health than first realised.
The manufactured vitamin can be found in a range of products from food and energy drinks through to diet shakes.
A quarter of people being tested show signs of possible neuropathy.
Kanowski said many cases were caused by people taking magnesium supplements, where he suspects B6 could be getting added as a filler.
