Nutrient Reference Values - Public Consultation on Draft Recommendations - Vitamin B6

Overview

 
NHMRC is inviting feedback on updated Draft Recommendations for Vitamin B6, to be included in the Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand.

What are Nutrient Reference Values?

The Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) are evidence-based guidelines that describe how much of each nutrient – like vitamin B6 - people should consume to stay healthy. By providing a scientific foundation for both individual nutrition and public health decision making, NRVs help to improve the overall health of the population and reduce the burden of diet-related diseases in Australia and New Zealand.

Why have the vitamin B6 NRVs been reviewed?

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in many foods. It is also added to some foods and available in dietary supplements. Our bodies need vitamin B6 in small amounts to stay healthy. It helps the body use nutrients from food, supports the brain and nervous system, helps make red blood cells and supports normal immune function.

Not getting enough vitamin B6 is rare. It can lead to skin problems, anaemia, seizures and problems with mood, memory and thinking. Having too much vitamin B6, usually from supplements rather than food, can damage the nerves and cause symptoms such as tingling, numbness, pain, balance problems and difficulty walking.  That’s why it’s important to have the right balance of vitamin B6 in the diet.

NRVs for vitamin B6 were last reviewed in 2006. Since that time, concerns have been raised over people developing a nerve condition (peripheral neuropathy) from taking too much vitamin B6 through supplements. Rules are changing about warning labels needed for supplements containing higher levels of vitamin B6 and where they can be sold. Also, some international NRVs for vitamin B6 have been recently updated, lowering the level of vitamin B6 intake considered safe. This highlights the need to reassess the adequacy of existing Upper Level (UL) recommendations for vitamin B6 for Australia and New Zealand.

The role of NHMRC NRVs

NHMRC NRVs are not regulatory, they are developed to protect and improve the health of the population. Regulatory NRVs that determine permitted nutrient levels in supplements and food products are informed by NHMRC NRVs, but are developed by regulators such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ).

How were the recommendations developed?

The review of vitamin B6 NRVs was guided by the 2026 NRV Methodological Framework and NHMRC Standards for Guidelines. NHMRC used an adapt/adopt approach, updating the UL for vitamin B6 based on the 2023 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations. An evidence review was commissioned that considered how suitable the EFSA recommendations were to adapt to Australia and New Zealand, as well as evidence from a range of other sources, including more recently published studies, Australian and New Zealand population data and advice published by other key international bodies. An Evidence-to-Decision framework was used to document how the evidence was weighed and considered by an expert Committee when arriving at the final recommendations.

A Vitamin B6 Expert Working Group advised on the conduct of the review, final recommendations and methods for deriving NRVs. The Working Group comprised experts in:

• Vitamin B6
• Nutrition
• Health and nutrition policy
• Dietary assessment
• Toxicology
• Chemical pathology (including toxicity and nutrition)
• Pharmacology
• Traditional and complementary medicines
• Neurology/clinical neurophysiology
• Pregnancy
• Maternal and child health
• Public health 
• Governance
• Regulatory science
• NRV development
• Evidence synthesis
• Guideline development methodology
• General practice
• Lived experience with vitamin B6 toxicity.

What has changed with the revised vitamin B6 NRVs?

UL recommendations for adults (including during pregnancy and breastfeeding), children and adolescents have been reviewed. Infant NRVs and nutritional adequcy recommendations for all age groups have not been reviewed at this time, and will be the subject of a separate review in due course.

The current recommendations for vitamin B6 comprise:

• EAR, RDI and AI for achieving nutritional adequacy and preventing vitamin B6 deficiency.
• UL that should not be exceeded to prevent harmful effects from excess vitamin B6.

The main changes proposed are reduced UL recommendations for all age groups. The EAR, RDI and AI recommendations are unchanged.

NRVs for additional age groups for children and adolescents have been added to better align with school levels. National survey data reports on these levels. The pre-existing age groupings are being maintained for international consistency and regulatory use and remain the primary source of recommendations for children and adolescents. A slight adjustment to adult age groups is also proposed, aligned with Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting.

Further information

For further information on NRVs and the updated vitamin B6 recommendations, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

How can I make a submission?

Submissions should be made via the online form (click 'Share your views' below).

The form invites responses on questions covering a range of topics and provides space for additional comments. This is an opportunity to provide any additional feedback not covered in the consultation questions.  

You do not have to respond to all questions. Please focus on the topics of most interest to you and/or your organisation.

If you would prefer to make a submission via email, please use the 'Email Submission Form', available for download at the bottom of this page. 

The closing date for submissions is 30 September 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Please see below for a downloadable version of the draft recommendations, together with the Frequently Asked Questions, Evidence Evaluation report and Evidence-to-Decision framework. You may choose to open any document or link in a new tab by right clicking and selecting "Open link in new tab". 

Other NHMRC public consultations

NHMRC’s updated Nutrient Reference Values for Sodium are also currently out for public consultation.

If you experience any difficulty accessing a document or require content in an alternative format, please contact us at WebRequest@nhmrc.gov.au for assistance.

Why your views matter

The information provided during this consultation will help us to understand whether our guidance has considered all relevant factors and is appropriate and implementable. Your feedback will help to improve our vitamin B6 recommendations, ensuring that they are as relevant and user-friendly as possible.