Kidney failure results in things that you need, such as proteins, calcium, and red blood cells, escaping in your urine while urea and other wastes continue to circulate in your bloodstream. This imbalance interferes with other systems in the body by potentially causing anemia and proteinemia while waste products continue to build up.

Kidney disease can lead to edema, cardiovascular disease, anemia, weak bones, poor immune response to infections, and even personality disorders or seizures. Your kidneys play a huge role in keeping your body healthy and functional!

Kidney Failure Symptoms

Unfortunately, there are no black-and-white symptoms of kidney disease or kidney failure. Patients may show no signs at all until the kidneys have undergone extensive damage and can no longer compensate. Symptoms that do occur are generic and can be caused by various other conditions. That said, these symptoms may indicate kidney failure:

• Fatigue. This could be attributed to poor oxygenation of tissues due to anemia, or the buildup of wastes.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Changes in urination. You might find yourself needing to visit the restroom more often that usual, or only rarely.
• Edema. Because the kidneys are not able to properly control the amount of water in the body, excess water may stay in the bloodstream. This water then pools in areas of the body such as the feet and ankles, or around the heart and lungs.
• Shortness of breath. Fluid buildup in or around the lungs will make it difficult to breathe.
• Chest pain. Fluid buildup around the heart makes it more difficult for the heart to pump.
• Loss of appetite.

Several medical conditions increase the risk of developing kidney failure. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, lupus, obesity, and smoking.

Diagnosing Kidney Failure

As you might expect, it is best to catch kidney disease early before too much damage has been done. While symptoms that you notice at home are not the most reliable signs, routine exams and lab work done by your doctor can catch kidney disease early.

Kidney problems are often found during routine urinalysis. Every time your doctor asks you to pee in a cup, your kidney function is being evaluated. Urinalysis checks for protein, glucose, blood, and other cells present in the urine, plus any foreign invaders such as bacteria or yeast. If there are a lot of blood cells or high levels of protein in your urine, your doctor will know to investigate further. For patients with predisposing factors, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, even a slight increase in urine protein levels may be cause for concern.

Blood tests to evaluate kidney function measure the levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Elevated creatinine and/or BUN indicate kidney damage.

If your doctor suspects that you have kidney disease, you may also need an ultrasound and/or kidney biopsy. Ultrasound allows the doctor to view your kidneys to evaluate their health and measure them. Kidney stones and obstructions can often be viewed via ultrasound. A kidney biopsy involves removing a small piece of the kidney so that it can be viewed under a microscope. There are two types of kidney biopsy: needle or open. A needle biopsy is done with a local anesthetic to numb the area so that the clinician can insert a needle into the kidney. Often an imaging technique such as ultrasound or CT scan is used to guide needle placement. An open biopsy requires general anesthesia so that the clinician can make an incision in the skin to access the kidney. As kidney biopsies are the most invasive diagnostic method, they are generally reserved for cases where it is difficult to determine the cause of the kidney damage.

What to Expect

If you are diagnosed with kidney disease, your doctor will advise you on lifestyle changes and medications to slow the progression. High blood pressure should be treated to reduce strain on the kidneys, and high cholesterol levels should be addressed. Eating a healthy diet with restricted salt and protein and balanced minerals will decrease the kidney’s workload.

In advanced kidney failure, it may become necessary to start dialysis to artificially filter your blood or to get a kidney transplant to replace the damaged kidneys.

Preventing Kidney Failure

There are several steps you can take to protect your kidneys. Keep active and eat a healthy diet to keep off excess weight. Follow the instructions on all medications, including over-the-counter drugs, and don’t smoke—your kidneys are involved in the excretion of many drugs and also filter out the waste products from smoking. If you have a serious health problem, particularly one that predisposes you to kidney damage, keep up with appointments and medications to keep yourself in your best health. And even if you are generally healthy, don’t skip your annual physical—routine exams are the best way to catch developing problems early!

SEE ALSO:

Top 10 Foods That Cause Kidney Stones
Kidney Pain: What’s Behind It?
Natural Diuretics: How to Reduce Fluid Retention Safely

This article was originally published in 2018. It is regularly updated. 

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1. Diet soda can actually lead to weight gain.

How can a drink with zero calories cause you to gain weight? The problem isn’t so much with the diet soda itself, but rather with our perception of it, according to a study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This study looked at dietary habits and found that those who drank diet sodas were more likely to choose unhealthy foods.

Drinking diet soda and knowing that it doesn’t have any calories makes us feel like we have extra calories to spend, and that it’s okay to eat more calorie-dense foods. The problem is when the food we choose exceeds the number of calories saved by drinking a low-calorie diet beverage.

On the other hand, researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Center for Health and Wellness and Temple University’s Center for Obesity Research and Education conducted a 12-week randomized clinical trial to evaluate whether or not diet soda in itself affects weight loss. All of the subjects had the same exercise plan and diet, with the exception being that half were allowed to drink diet beverages while half were allowed to drink only water.

The results? Diet soda drinkers lost 13 pounds on average, while water drinkers lost 9 pounds on average. So if you stick to healthy foods and an exercise plan, diet soda can be part of your weight-loss regime.

2. Diet soda has been linked to dementia

A 2017 study by Boston University looked at data from the Framingham Heart Study and found that people who drank diet soda daily were three times more likely to develop dementia than those who didn’t. (They also found that those who drank sugary drinks had poorer memory and smaller brain volume, so regular soda isn’t the answer.)

While this study does show a link between diet soda and dementia, more research is necessary to determine whether diet soda actually causes dementia and, if so, how.

3. Diet soda has been linked to heart disease.

A 2012 study by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center found that those who consume diet sodas on a daily basis were 43 percent more likely to be at risk for a heart attack, a stroke, or vascular death. The researchers took into account pre-existing vascular conditions, among them high blood pressure, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Those who had lesser quantities of diet soft drinks—between one a month and six a week—were not more likely to suffer a vascular event.

This increased risk was not present for people who drank regular soda or who drank diet soda only occasionally. The study did take into account if subjects had pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure that would predispose them to other vascular events. This study makes it very clear that while a little diet soda is okay, a lot of diet soda is bad for you.

The study mentioned above, which used Framingham Heart Study data, also found that diet soda drinkers were three times more likely to have a stroke.

4. Diet soda also has been linked to depression.

Researchers at the National Institute of Health found a 31 pecent increase in diagnoses of depression in people who drank four or more cans of diet soda per day. The study tracked the drinking habits of more than 200,000 participants for a year, and then 10 years later the participants were asked whether they had been diagnosed with depression since the initial study.

While this study does show a link between diet soda and depression, more research is needed to determine whether diet soda consumption actually causes depression. It could very well be that people with depression are more likely to choose diet soda, for either biochemical or psychological reasons.

So, Is Diet Soda Bad for You?

The American Heart Association sums it up perfectly: “You can drink diet sodas in moderation, but they don’t give you any nutrition and shouldn’t be used to excuse overindulging with other foods. Balance them with plain water and a variety of foods and beverages that are high in nutrients and low in added sugars.”

While consuming lots of diet soda on a regular basis may put you at increased risk of a variety of health problems, including heart disease, dementia, depression, and weight gain, a little bit now and then is okay.

If you’re looking for a truly healthy beverage, water is, of course, the best choice. Sparkling water and seltzer water will quench your carbonation cravings. Tea, coffee, and red wine also have health benefits. Click here for tips on how to quit drinking (or at least cut back on) diet soda.

This article was originally published in 2018. It is regularly updated. 

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What Is a Seizure?

In the simplest terms, a seizure is when the brain becomes over-stimulated, causing it to function abnormally (and therefore causing the body to do weird things). The brain is made up of neurons, specialized cells that create and transmit electrical impulses between each other to communicate. The transmission of these impulses is responsible for everything you can do, from walking to digesting food to remembering what day it is. When a person has a seizure, this electrical activity gets out of control.

Types of Seizures

There are two main types of seizures. The type that most people are familiar with are grand mal seizures, also known as tonic clonic seizures or convulsions. This type of seizure is usually characterized by the person’s body going stiff and then rapidly jerking.

Focal seizures are limited to a smaller area of the brain, and thus affect only part of the body. One arm might jerk, or the person may uncontrollably chew and smack his or her lips.

“Absence seizures” are when the person seems to zone out and stare. Also, there are muscular disorders that may cause episodes and movements that look like a seizure but are not.

Most seizures last only a couple of minutes. If the seizure is prolonged, or if the person experiences several seizures one after the other, the brain can overheat and cause permanent damage.

What Causes Seizures?

Seizures can be caused by a variety of things, some of which we understand and some of which still require more research. Each patient may have different sensitivities, or triggers, that can bring on a seizure, or there may be no apparent cause.

Epilepsy is the general term for when there is something abnormal about the brain that predisposes it to seizures. This could be damage from a head injury, an infection, a tumor, a stroke, or an inherited defect. Having one seizure does not mean that a person has epilepsy. A diagnosis of epilepsy requires testing to rule out other causes for the seizures.

Seizures can be caused by physiological states in the body, such as:

• Low blood sugar
• Fainting
• Stress or an anxiety attack
• Strong emotions
• Hard exercise
• Lack of sleep
• Hormones

Seizures can also be triggered by things in the environment, like:

• Flashing lights
• Loud noises
• Chemical smells

Some people experience sensations before or during a seizure. These sensations are called auras. An aura could be unexplained fear, not feeling well, or a smell or sound that no one else can sense. These auras can occur alone or may precede a grand mal seizure.

Because we encounter and experience so many different things in the course of our daily lives, it can be very difficult to determine what causes a person to seize.

If you experience one or more seizures, keep a journal detailing everything you can remember that happened before each seizure. These notes will help your doctor to identify potential triggers. Ask anyone who witnesses you having a seizure to also record everything that they noticed before, during, and after the seizure to provide additional information that could be valuable.

There are a variety of diagnostic tests that can be done to help determine why a seizure has occurred and to detect or rule out potential causes.

• Blood work will check for blood sugar levels and any other abnormalities that could indicate infection or the presence of a systemic disease.
• Electroencephalography uses electrode pads placed on the patient’s head to evaluate the electrical activity within the brain.
• A CT scan or MRI can be used to check for anything physically abnormal in the brain, such as a tumor or evidence of a stroke.
• A spinal tap can also be done to evaluate the cerebrospinal fluid for signs of infection.

How are Seizures Treated?

Seizures are really more of a symptom than an actual disease, so when possible, doctors will treat the underlying cause of the seizures. For example, if the patient has a brain tumor, removal or reduction of the tumor will most likely resolve the seizures. Infections will be treated with appropriate antibiotics, and seizures caused by diabetic shock will be resolved once the person’s blood sugar levels have been stabilized. Seizures caused by hormonal fluctuations can be treated with hormone therapy. If the cause of the seizures is psychological—stress, for example—anti-anxiety medications will be prescribed.

Your doctor will take measures to prevent seizures from occurring or to lessen their intensity. This usually involves taking anti-seizure medications.

There are a variety of anti-seizure medications on the market, each with its own pluses and minuses. You’ill need to work with your doctor to select the best medication for you, and expect that determining the optimal dose may take some adjustments.

Some medications have side effects that will go away as your body becomes used to the drug, while others may persist (if this happens, consult with your doctor to try a different medication). As with any medication, you want to get the best results with the least number of side effects. If necessary, multiple medications may be taken at once.

For anti-seizure medication to be effective, it is important to follow instructions carefully and take your medication at the same time every day. Also, discuss any other medications that you are on or might consider taking with your doctor to avoid any potential drug interactions.

The post Seizures: Causes, Triggers, and Treatments appeared first on University Health News.

Meal replacement shakes often are marketed to the elderly and others with nutritional deficiencies that can result in such conditions as age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia). People trying to lose weight also are targeted by makers of meal replacement shakes (see “Weight Loss Is a Lifestyle” sidebar).

Premade Meal Replacement Shakes

As with any other processed food, a premade meal replacement shake has to be able to stay good long enough to get through the packaging process, shipped to a store, and then purchased and transferred to your kitchen. This of course requires preservatives. “Preservatives” has become a red-flag word, but they also do a lot of good: preservatives reduce the risk of food-borne illness, and reduce food waste by allowing us to store and use food longer. Some preservatives have been found to be dangerous or unhealthy. Click here to see the complete FDA list of food additives, which includes the banned and illegal preservatives (and always support organizations like the FDA, because they are incredibly important for keeping our foods safe!).

Fiber content is important to watch in a meal replacement shake, especially if using them as part of a weight loss program. Fiber in the diet makes you feel full, so consuming something with fiber will make you feel more satisfied than the same amount of calories with a lower amount of fiber. Many premade meal replacement shakes do not have a high fiber content, so you will feel hungry sooner after drinking one.

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Vitamin B3’s biggest impact is on our heart health. Niacin is beneficial for cardiovascular health by regulating your levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Vitamin B3 and Your Heart

LDL cholesterol is the “bad” variety that increases the risk of heart disease, whereas HDL cholesterol decreases the risk of heart disease. Vitamin B3 decreases the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood and increases the amount of HDL cholesterol.

Plus, niacin is recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program as valuable therapy for those trying to control their cholesterol levels to prevent heart attacks.

Triglycerides are necessary for a healthy body, but like so many other substances, too much can be problematic. In the case of vitamin B3, excess triglycerides are converted to fat for storage, increasing the risk of heart disease. Vitamin B3 helps to keep blood triglyceride levels low.

Vitamin B3 and the Brain

Vitamin B3 is one of several B vitamins that plays a role in brain health and memory retention. Studies have found that patients with dementia had lower levels of vitamin B3 than patients without it, and that confusion and dementia are two of the symptoms of vitamin B3 deficiency.

A 2004 study in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry found that those who consumed more vitamin B3—be it through diet or supplementation—were less likely to experience cognitive decline or to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Why does niacin help to protect the brain? It plays a role in the growth and repair of both nerve cells and DNA. Since other B vitamins are also beneficial for mental health, a B multi-vitamin can be beneficial in compensating for deficiencies.

And that’s still not all. Vitamin B3 is also believed to help prevent cataracts and is beneficial for skin health.

The Best in Vitamin B3 Foods

Vitamin B3 is an essential nutrient, meaning that your body can’t make it on its own and you need to get it from your diet. Vitamin B3 is also water-soluble and gets excreted in your urine, so it is necessary to consume it on a daily basis.

The Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamin B3 is 14 mg for adult women and 16 mg for adult men. Children and women who are pregnant or nursing have varying requirements.

Some foods that are good sources of vitamin B3 are:

• Beets
• Beef liver
• Fish
• Sunflower seeds
• Peanuts
• Breads and cereals that have been fortified with vitamin B3
• Chicken
• Turkey

Niacin is also available as a supplement.

Vitamin B3 Deficiency

The good news is that vitamin B3 deficiency is quite rare in developed countries like the United States. Those most at risk for vitamin B3 deficiency are alcoholics and people with very nutrient-poor diets.

Some medications, including chloramphenicol and azathioprine, may also cause low vitamin B3 levels in your body.

Symptoms of vitamin B3 deficiency include:

• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Canker sores
• Poor circulation
• Depression
• Dementia
• Cracked, scaly skin
• Diarrhea
• Swollen, painful tongue

Vitamin B3 Side Effects

On the other hand, hHgh doses of vitamin B3 can be toxic, so it’s important to consult with your doctor before taking B3 supplements. Possible side effects from taking too much niacin include:

• Flushed skin
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Liver damage
• Stomach ulcers
• Itching

If taking a niacin supplement, start with a low dose and gradually increase to the desired amount. Flushing is the most common side effect, and may persist or may go away within one to two weeks once your body adjusts.

Vitamin B3 also interacts with a variety of medications, including antibiotics, anticoagulants, anti-seizure medications, cholesterol-lowering medications, statins, and diabetes medications. Ask your doctor about potential medication interactions, and plan on regular bloodwork to monitor your liver function if you’re taking niacin long-term.

Other Forms of Vitamin B3

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that’s being touted as a natural remedy for anxiety. It is thought to work by regulating hormones and chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine.

The most common side effect of taking niacinamide supplements is nausea; it also can cause, like its cousin niacin, flushing and liver damage.

For further reading, see these University Health News posts:

• “How to Lower Triglycerides with 3 Proven Nutrients“
• “Niacin: Where to Find This Essential Fuel-Producing, Cholesterol-Lowering Vitamin“
• “Niacin Among Top Vitamins for Cholesterol with a 60-Year Track Record Proving It Works“
• “Chill Out with This Natural Remedy for Anxiety“
• “Lower Cholesterol Naturally with B Vitamins“
• “B Vitamins for Memory: Niacin Benefits for Alzheimer’s Disease“

See also The University of Maryland page Vitamin B3 (Niacin).

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What are the benefits of vitamin D3? It’s helpful in the prevention and/or treatment of these conditions:

• Osteoporosis
• High blood pressure
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Cancer

Vitamin D: What It Does

One of the primary functions of vitamin D3 is to regulate calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood. Vitamin D3 encourages the body to absorb calcium, which is critical for strong, dense bones. Calcium is also necessary for muscle cells to contract.

There are vitamin D3 receptors in the brain, and low levels of vitamin D have been linked to depression. Vitamin D3 increases the release of serotonin and dopamine, two chemicals that contribute to feeling happier. This is part of the reason why some people feel more depressed in the winter, when there are shorter days with less sunlight.

Researchers found that when subjects with vitamin D deficiency were given vitamin D3, the mitochondria in their muscle cells performed better. The mitochondria is considered the powerhouse of the cell, and produces the energy that is needed for a cell to function (so without good mitochondrial production, muscles don’t perform well). While we still don’t know exactly how vitamin D3 is boosting the mitochondria in muscle cells, this is a promising development toward understanding the role that vitamin D3 plays in preventing fatigue and muscle weakness.

Vitamin D3 Deficiency

Signs of vitamin D3 deficiency include:

• Fractures
• Rickets in children
• Osteomalacia in adults
• Fatigue and muscle weakness
• Depression and anxiety
• Joint pain
• Low blood calcium levels
• Weight gain

Rickets is a condition in which the bones are too soft due to lack of calcium, making them unable to support the body’s weight properly. Children with rickets tend to have bent legs because their growing bones aren’t strong enough to straighten and lengthen normally.

Osteomalacia and osteoporosis occur in older adults. In this case, the bones developed normally originally but now no longer have sufficient calcium to maintain their strength. These fragile bones are more at risk for fractures.

Low levels of vitamin D3 have also been linked to weakened immune systems, which increases the risk of conditions like the flu, asthma, or cancer.

Even if you’re getting enough sunlight and vitamin D3 in your diet, as you age your kidneys will be less efficient at converting it to its usable form. Kidney and liver disease will also hinder conversion. These conditions may require additional supplementation.

Your doctor can run the 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test to evaluate your vitamin D levels and determine whether or not you have a deficiency.

Vitamin D3 Side Effects

Yup, as well as making sure you are getting enough vitamin D3, you have to watch out for having too much. Too much vitamin D can cause your body to keep too much calcium in the blood. Symptoms can include poor appetite, nausea, and vomiting as well as weakness and kidney problems.

Vitamin D toxicity is usually a result of taking too many vitamin D supplements, and can be avoided by consulting your doctor before taking supplements and having your blood tested regularly to track your vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D3 Supplements and Sources

The easiest way to make sure you are getting enough vitamin D3 is to soak up some sun. Spend 10 to 30 minutes outside, ideally with a fair amount of skin showing (the more skin you have exposed, the more opportunity your body will have to create vitamin D). Just don’t let yourself get a sunburn—you can have too much of a good thing, and sunburns have all kinds of negative consequences. (See also our posts “Skin Cancer Signs? Self-Checks May Help You Avoid Deadly Recurrence” and “Can You Die from Skin Cancer?“)

Getting vitamin D3 from sunlight sounds like a great idea unless you live somewhere with cold, dark winters. To make up for insufficient sunlight, you can sit in front of a light box that produces full-spectrum light, take supplements, or adjust your diet.

Some food sources that have vitamin D3 are beef liver, cheese, egg yolks, and fatty fish such as salmon, herring, catfish, tuna, mackerel, and sardines. Organ meat has higher concentrations of vitamin D than muscle meat. Cod liver oil is another good source if you can stomach the flavor! Beverages like milk and orange juice can be fortified with vitamins by manufacturers, and may contain either vitamin D3 or D2. Foods like cereal and tofu can also be fortified.

For further reading, please see these University Health News posts:

• “Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D To Prevent Osteoporosis Symptoms?“
• “10 Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms You Can Identify Yourself“
• “Natural Remedy for High Blood Pressure: Vitamin D“
• “Vitamin Supplements for Fatigue: Start By Correcting Your Vitamin D Deficiency“
• “Natural Food Sources of Vitamin D“

The post Vitamin D3: Deficiency Can Contribute to Joint Pain, Weight Gain, Depression, and More appeared first on University Health News.

There are several forms of vitamin B6. The ones that actively contribute to your body’s metabolism are known as pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (P5P for short) and pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate (PMP). “Essential nutrient” means that while your body can use vitamin B6, it cannot synthesize it on its own, so you must get it through your diet or dietary supplements.

Why is vitamin B6 important? It plays a role in the metabolism of amino acids, glucose, and lipids and contributes to cognitive development, gene expression, and the synthesis of hemoglobin. (Hemoglobin is the protein that allows oxygen to bind to red blood cells.)

Vitamin B6 Benefits

Vitamin B6 provides a range of health benefits. For example, it can help to prevent anxiety attacks, per a study at Japan’s Okayama University Medical School. Researchers there looked at the serum concentration levels of vitamin B6 and iron in patients who had been admitted to an emergency room due to a panic attack and those of some volunteers. They found that the patients with severe panic attacks had less vitamin B6 in their serum than the volunteers.

Why did researchers look at vitamin B6 levels? Because it’s a necessary element in the synthesis of serotonin, a hormone that promotes happiness.

If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, ask your doctor about taking a vitamin B6 supplement. A study at the Neurosciences Research Center at Tabriz (Iran) University of Medical Sciences looked at the use of use of vitamin B6 for people suffering from carpal tunnel, comparing those who were splinted and received vitamin B6 supplements with those who were only splinted. The subjects who received vitamin B6 had fewer symptoms and discomfort at the end of the trial.

Vitamin B6 can also help to alleviate nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. “Morning sickness” is generally self-limiting and will resolve on its own, but for women with severe symptoms, vitamin B6 supplementation should be discussed with a physician.

Other studies have suggested that vitamin B6 can be beneficial for cardiovascular health, brain function, asthma, sleep cycle regulation, arthritis, and eye health.

Vitamin B6 Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms in adults include:

• Poor immune function
• Irritability and depression
• Confusion
• Anemia
• Muscle pains
• Fatigue
• Dermatitis

Symptoms are more severe with a greater deficiency. Vitamin B6 deficiency is usually tied to deficiencies of other B vitamins. Those most at risk for vitamin B6 deficiency are those with autoimmune disorders, kidney disease, or alcohol dependence.

Some medications can interfere with vitamin B6 levels. These include some antiepileptics, chemotherapeutics, antibiotics, theophylline, and medications that are used to treat Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

If you’re concerned that you might have a vitamin B6 deficiency, consult with your doctor so that he or she can test your vitamin B6 levels and help you to determine the best treatment plan. Communication with your physician is especially important if you take any medications that may interact with vitamin B6.

Vitamin B6 Foods and Supplements

The following foods are worthy sources of vitamin B6:

• Chickpeas
• Beef liver
• Yellowfin tuna
• Salmon
• Chicken breast
• Boiled potatoes
• Turkey
• Bananas
• Marinara sauce
• Ground beef

You can find more vitamin B6 foods, some you probably never knew existed, on this list from the United States Department of Agriculture.

Vitamin B6 can also be taken as a supplement, formulated as capsules, tablets, or liquids. Supplements can include various forms of vitamin B6, and different manufacturers may list them with different names.

Vitamin B6 Toxicity

Vitamin B6 is water-soluble, so excess amounts are usually excreted in your urine. It is difficult to get too much vitamin B6 from food sources, but it is possible to overdo supplements.

Taking too much vitamin B6 for an extended period of time can lead to severe ataxia (poor control of movement, usually characterized by jerky, exaggerated motions), skin lesions, photosensitivity, nausea, and heartburn. The maximum amount of vitamin B6 that an adult should have each day is 100mg, far more than the recommended daily allowance.

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• Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms, from Fatigue to Mouth Sores
• What’s the Right Vitamin D Level?
• Preserve Nutrients in the Kitchen

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