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B67.0
Vitamin B6 Research
Likely helps
150 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Vitamin B6 appears to help in 12 of 16 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1976–2026 with a typical study size of 492 participants.
Based on 150 studies · 29 meta-analyses · 90 RCTs · 891,764 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
12helped3unclear1didn't help· 134 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Women's healthMay help manage menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes · 4-8 weeks · Supports healthy estrogen metabolism and hormonal equilibrium · 4-8 weeks · May help reduce menstrual discomfort and PMS symptoms · 1-3 cycles · Provides essential nutrients for healthy pregnancy · Ongoing
Immune supportImproved immune cell function · 4-8 weeks
Too few graded studies1 study
Inflammation
Too few graded studies1 study
Skin health
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 46 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
80%
across studies
People studied
892k
typical study: 492 people
Strongest designs
119
29 pooled, 90 randomised
Showed benefit
69%
11/16 studies
How long studies ran
1–4 weeks
2
1–3 months
3
3+ months
1
Populations Studied
General population4
Pregnant women with nausea and vomiting3
Cancer patients2
Patients with antipsychotic-induced akathisia2
Active research area
45 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026
197620012026
1Meta-Analysisn=3,017 · very large study2026
In plain English: Conclusions: This study indicates that both pharmacological (vitamin B6, metoclopramide, dimenhydrinate) and non-pharmacological (ginger, quince, acupressure, acupuncture) interventions might be effective in reducing symptoms of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
Frivaldszky L et al. · Nutrients (2026)
Background: Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy affects up to 80% of pregnant women and may progress to hyperemesis gravidarum, leading to maternal morbidity and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Risk of bias was low to moderate.
Discussion: Most interventions demonstrated significant benefit over a placebo.
2Psychological symptoms of premenstrual syndromeSystematic Reviewn=3,254 · very large study2025
In plain English: There is some evidence to support the use of nutritional interventions for improving psychological symptoms of PMS.
Robinson J et al. · Nutrition reviews (2025)
There is some evidence to support the use of nutritional interventions for improving psychological symptoms of PMS.
However, more research using consistent protocols, procedures to minimize risk of bias, intention-to-treat analysis, and clearer reporting is required to provide conclusive nutritional recommendations for improving PMS-related psychological outcomes.
3Cardiovascular calcification progressionSystematic Reviewn=9,901 · very large study2023
In plain English: Currently, there are insufficient or conflicting data for interventions evaluated in clinical trials for mitigation of cardiovascular calcification.
Murali S et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association (2023)
Currently, there are insufficient or conflicting data for interventions evaluated in clinical trials for mitigation of cardiovascular calcification.
Therapy involving aged garlic extract appears most promising, but evaluable studies were small and of short duration.
4Safety and efficacy in cancer treatmentSystematic Reviewn=1,200 · large study2024
In plain English: In this systematic review we concluded that B vitamin supplements have varying data regarding safety and efficacy in cancer.
Van de Roovaart HJ et al. · Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (2024)
In this systematic review we concluded that B vitamin supplements have varying data regarding safety and efficacy in cancer.
Taking into account the etiology of the cancer, the specific B-vitamin, and the presence of any side effects could help guide utilization of the data found in this review.
Large, randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings among various cancer diagnoses and stages.
5Stroke risk reductionMeta-Analysisn=76,664 · very large study2024
In plain English: Our meta-analysis found that the folic acid combined with vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 supplementation strategy significantly reduced the risk of stroke in areas without and with partial folic acid fortification.
Zhang N et al. · The American journal of clinical nutrition (2024)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
In areas without and with partial folic acid fortification, combined B-vitamin supplementation significantly reduced the risk of stroke by 34% [RR: 0.66; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50, 0.86] and 11% (RR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.79, 1.00), respectively.
Further analysis showed that a dosage of folic acid ≤0.8 mg/d and vitamin B12 ≤0.4 mg/d was best for stroke prevention (RR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.48, 0.86) in these areas.
In contrast, no benefit of combined supplementation was found in fortified areas (RR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.94, 1.16).
6Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy treatmentMeta-Analysisn=1,174 · large study2022
In plain English: Ginger supplementation significantly relieve general NVP symptom and nausea compared with placebo, but no significant effect on vomiting.
Hu Y et al. · The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians (2022)
Ginger supplementation significantly relieve general NVP symptom and nausea compared with placebo, but no significant effect on vomiting.
Moreover, ginger is more effective than vitamin B6 in treating NVP, although, there were no significant differences.
Further, rigidly designed RCTs with larger sample sizes are needed to verify the effectiveness of ginger supplementation for treatment NVP compared with vitamin B6.
7Antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia treatmentMeta-Analysisn=1,999 · large study2022
In plain English: No effective strategy was found for patients with AP-induced HPRL less than 50 ng/ml, while adjunctive ARI, switching to ARI in titration and adjunctive high-dose vitamin B6 showed better PRL decrease effect on AP-induced HPRL more than 50 ng/ml.
Lu Z et al. · Translational psychiatry (2022)
Antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia (AP-induced HPRL) occurs overall in up to 70% of patients with schizophrenia, which is associated with hypogonadism and sexual dysfunction.
Pharmacological treatment strategies for AP-induced HPRL depends on initial PRL level.
No effective strategy was found for patients with AP-induced HPRL less than 50 ng/ml, while adjunctive ARI, switching to ARI in titration and adjunctive high-dose vitamin B6 showed better PRL decrease effect on AP-induced HPRL more than 50 ng/ml.
8Antipsychotic-induced akathisia treatment efficacyMeta-Analysisn=492 · medium study2024
In plain English: In this systematic review and network meta-analysis, mirtazapine, biperiden, and vitamin B6 were associated with the greatest efficacy for AIA, with vitamin B6 having the best efficacy and tolerance profile.
Gerolymos C et al. · JAMA network open (2024)
No association between effect sizes and psychotic severity was found.
In this systematic review and network meta-analysis, mirtazapine, biperiden, and vitamin B6 were associated with the greatest efficacy for AIA, with vitamin B6 having the best efficacy and tolerance profile.
Trazodone, mianserin, and propranolol appeared as effective alternatives with slightly less favorable efficacy and tolerance profiles.
9Global cognitive functionMeta-Analysisn=83,000 · very large study2018
In plain English: We did not find evidence that any vitamin or mineral supplementation strategy for cognitively healthy adults in mid or late life has a meaningful effect on cognitive decline or dementia, although the evidence does not permit definitive conclusions.
Rutjes AW et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2018)
Barely noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
We found that giving B vitamin supplements to cognitively healthy adults, mainly in their 60s and 70s, probably has little or no effect on global cognitive function at any time point up to 5 years (SMD values from -0.03 to 0.06) and may also have no effect at 5-10 years (SMD -0.01).
We found low- to moderate-certainty evidence of no effect of vitamin D3 and calcium supplements at any time-point up to 10 years on overall cognitive function (MD after a mean of 7.8 years -0.1 MMSE points, 95% CI -0.81 to 0.61) or the incidence of dementia (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.24).
There was moderate-certainty evidence of little or no effect on overall cognitive function (MD 0.6 MMSE points, 95% CI -0.19 to 1.39) or on the incidence of cognitive impairment after 5 years to 10 years.
11Nausea and vomiting in pregnancySystematic Reviewn=8,930 · very large study2016
In plain English: For mild symptoms of nausea and emesis of pregnancy, ginger, pyridoxine, antihistamines, and metoclopramide were associated with greater benefit than placebo.
McParlin C et al. · JAMA (2016)
For mild symptoms of nausea and emesis of pregnancy, ginger, pyridoxine, antihistamines, and metoclopramide were associated with greater benefit than placebo.
Ondansetron was associated with improvement for a range of symptom severity.
Corticosteroids may be associated with benefit in severe cases.