Vitamin B6 for ADHD, Brain Health & More

Article By: Dominica Dieffenbach, RDN

Dominica is a Registered Dietitian currently specializing in the special needs pediatric population. She has over 15 years of experience as an RD, working with a wide variety of patients to provide them with individualized medical nutrition therapy and education.

Vitamin B6, otherwise known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin naturally occurring in many plant-based and animal-based foods such as tuna, salmon, poultry, chickpeas, bananas, cantaloupe, and spinach. This vitamin plays a critical role in various functions including maintaining normal levels of homocysteine, promoting proper immune function, and supporting brain health.

Because vitamin B6 is water-soluble, it dissolves in water so the body cannot store it. This is important to note in case there isn't consistency of consuming B6-rich foods in your kiddo's diet.

For children who eat a varied diet containing foods rich in Vitamin B6, a deficiency is not common. However, those with an autoimmune disorder such as celiac (or Crohn’s disease) or an extremely picky kiddo is more susceptible to having a deficiency. In that case, your kiddo could benefit from a multivitamin to support ADHD symptoms that contains B6 or a single, standalone supplement like Renzo's Bright & Brainy B6.

Doctors would agree that proper nutrition is essential for helping to improve symptoms and maybe even treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition to an overall healthy diet, there is growing evidence around the benefits Vitamin B6 may have on supporting proper neurotransmitter and serotonin production. This in turn, may help to decrease hyperactivity and aggressiveness to support proper attention and focus in school. Now that’s what we call a vitamin victory!

Children with epilepsy are more likely to have behavioral problems such as aggression, nervousness, and hostility which can be linked to certain anti-epileptic medications. The use of higher doses of B6 to help manage these medication-induced behaviors was initially found more than a decade ago. Today, this practice is fairly common in the pediatric world, although the optimal dosage is not known as it is very individualized. It's best to consult your pediatrician or family care doctor on what's best for your child. Anticonvulsant drugs can decrease levels of biotin, folic acid, and Vitamins B6 and B12 in the body, especially when taken long-term.

When used as a supplement in appropriate doses, Vitamin B6 is considered safe.

Check out the recommended daily value from the NIH:

Average recommended daily Vitamin B6 intake

 It's important to note that taking too much Vitamin B6 from supplements can cause a few unpleasant side effects, such as:

• A lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements (ataxia)
• Painful, disfiguring skin lesions
• Heartburn and nausea
• Sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity)
• Numbness
• Reduced ability to sense pain or extreme temperatures

Always be sure to check with a physician before starting a new supplement regimen, especially for your kids.

Renzo's Vitamins provides general recommendations, not to be construed as medical advice.