Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine HCl)
Also known as: pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyridoxine, vitamin B6, pyridoxine HCl
Pyridoxine hydrochloride is the standard, inexpensive, and highly stable form of vitamin B6 used in nearly all multivitamins and B-complex products. NIH ODS reports it is the most common B6 vitamer in supplements and that absorption is similar across forms. Vitamin B6 is a cofactor for more than 100 enzymes in amino acid, neurotransmitter, and hemoglobin metabolism, and it is used in energy, mood, PMS, and pregnancy-nausea formulas. Because chronic gram-level intakes cause sensory neuropathy, it carries a 100 mg UL.
Research summary
Absorbed and converted in the liver to pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, the coenzyme for transaminases, decarboxylases (serotonin, GABA, dopamine synthesis), and glycogen phosphorylase.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of compound.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 mg | 1.7–50 mg | 100 mg | 100 mg |
NIH ODS — UL is 100 mg/day for adults 19+ from food plus supplements, based on sensory neuropathy; EFSA (2023) set a lower 12 mg/day UL
Doses are mg pyridoxine HCl as labeled (industry convention). RDA is 1.3 mg for adults 19 to 50, rising to 1.7 mg (men) and 1.5 mg (women) after 50; DV 1.7 mg. NIH ODS cites 50 to 100 mg/day in adults in some trials and notes neuropathy reports below 500 mg/day, with the UL set at half the 200 mg average of long-term studies. dose_max_studied is capped at the UL. EFSA's 12 mg/day UL matters for EU products. Water-soluble; any time of day.
Standardization: ≥98% pyridoxine hydrochloride (USP)
Source material: synthetic
Forms of Vitamin B6
| Form | Typical dose | Element % | Formats | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine HCl) | 1.7–50 mg | — | Capsule, Tablet, Powder, Gummy, Liquid | low |
| Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate (P5P) | 1.7–50 mg | — | Capsule, Tablet, Powder, Liquid | mid |
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Stable and neutral; suits every format including gummies.
Formulation notes
Paired with magnesium in PMS and sleep formulas and with folate and B12 in homocysteine formulas. Levodopa (without carbidopa) and some antiepileptics interact with high-dose B6.
- Has an upper limit
Sources
Related ingredients
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VitaminCyanocobalamin is the synthetic, highly stable form of vitamin B12 used in most supplements and fortified foods.
Typical: 100–1,000 mcg
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)
VitaminMethylcobalamin is one of the two coenzyme forms of vitamin B12 that the body uses directly, in this case for the methionine synthase reaction that recycles homocysteine and supports methylation.
Typical: 100–1,000 mcg
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