Australia's therapeutic goods regulator has announced sweeping changes to the availability of high-dose vitamin B6 supplements following growing concerns about severe health impacts from accidental overdose.
New Regulations Coming in 2027
From June 2027, Australians will face significant changes when purchasing vitamin B6 supplements. Products containing more than 50mg will require pharmacist supervision, while anything exceeding 200mg will become prescription-only. This decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) follows an extensive review and comes after more than 100 people reported serious health effects from vitamin B6 toxicity.
The TGA revealed that submissions documented "severe, sometimes permanent, health effects including peripheral neuropathy, nerve damage, muscle weakness, and significant impacts on daily life and employment."
Why the Changes Are Necessary
Vitamin B6, known scientifically as pyridoxine, pyridoxamine and pyridoxal, plays crucial roles in brain development, nervous system regulation and immune function. However, medical experts say it's become too easy for consumers to accidentally exceed safe limits.
Professor Oliver Jones from RMIT University explained the fundamental problem: "The vitamin is an essential nutrient that our bodies don't produce, so we must source it externally. The issue is that vitamin B6 appears in multiple products, making it easy to accidentally take too much without realising."
Dr Ian Musgrave from the University of Adelaide highlighted the widespread presence of B6 in everyday products. "Dietary intake alone won't cause toxicity, but many supplements contain levels well above recommended daily intake. Vitamin B6 can also be found in energy drinks, breakfast cereals, and weight loss shakes, creating significant potential for overdose."
Real-Life Impact and Expert Response
The urgency of these changes is underscored by personal stories like that of Dominic Noonan O'Keefe, a 33-year-old Victorian father who developed severe symptoms after taking supplements. "I had electric shock nerve pain shoot up my scalp," he recalled. "Everything became overwhelming. I thought I was dying."
Medical professionals have welcomed the new restrictions, though some question the lengthy implementation timeline. University of Queensland's Geraldine Moses described the decision as "a great relief" but noted that "this ruling won't come into effect until June 2027, which is disappointing given the UK has regulated doses above 50mg as prescription-only since 1997."
Currently, there are at least 125 products on Australian shelves containing between 50mg and 200mg of vitamin B6. The TGA believes the 2027 deadline provides sufficient time for manufacturers to update labelling and manage existing stock.
For most healthy adults, obtaining the recommended 1.3-1.7mg daily requirement through diet alone is easily achievable. Vitamin B6 deficiency remains uncommon in Australia, primarily affecting elderly individuals, those with alcohol dependence, obesity, or specific medical conditions affecting kidney and liver function.
The TGA advises consumers experiencing tingling, burning or numbness in their hands or feet to immediately stop taking vitamin B6 supplements and seek medical advice.
