Quick answer
NIH's US upper limits for vitamin B6 rise with age, from 30 mg a day at ages 1 to 3 to 80 mg at 14 to 18. Europe's 2023 limits are much lower, from 3.2 to 4.5 mg at ages 1 to 6. Ask a pediatrician before giving a child a supplement.1,2,3
Key facts
- NIH's US upper limits for vitamin B6 are 30 mg a day at ages 1 to 3, 40 at 4 to 8, 60 at 9 to 13 and 80 at 14 to 18, counting food and supplements.1,2
- The European Food Safety Authority's 2023 limits are 2.2 to 2.5 mg a day at 4 to 11 months, 3.2 to 4.5 mg at 1 to 6 years and 6.1 to 10.7 mg at 7 to 17 years.3
- The European limits are based on peripheral neuropathy, which EFSA calls a well-established effect of excess vitamin B6.3
- NIH says supplements with vitamin B6 are more commonly used by children younger than 9 than by most other age groups, and that most children get the recommended amounts.2
- The label of a prescription doxylamine and pyridoxine tablet says safety and effectiveness in people under 18 have not been established.4
What are the upper limits for children and teens?
Two authorities set limits, and they differ. The US limits come from the Food and Nutrition Board and count vitamin B6 from food, drinks and supplements together. They are lower for children than adults because of body size, and they do not apply to people taking B6 for medical reasons under a doctor's care.1,2
| Age | US limit a day (NIH) | European limit a day (EFSA 2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to 12 months | Not possible to establish | 2.2 to 2.5 mg at 4 to 11 months |
| 1 to 3 years | 30 mg | 3.2 to 4.5 mg for ages 1 to 6 |
| 4 to 8 years | 40 mg | 3.2 to 4.5 mg for ages 1 to 6 |
| 9 to 13 years | 60 mg | 6.1 to 10.7 mg for ages 7 to 17 |
| 14 to 18 years | 80 mg | 6.1 to 10.7 mg for ages 7 to 17 |
EFSA's panel based its limits on peripheral neuropathy, the nerve effect that it calls well established in people who take too much vitamin B6, and scaled the adult limit to children by body size.3
How common are B6 supplements for children?
NIH's professional sheet reports that 28% to 36% of people in the US use a supplement containing vitamin B6, with adults 51 and over and children younger than 9 the most likely groups. It adds that most children, teens and adults in the US get the recommended amount, based on national survey data.2
High intakes of vitamin B6 from food have not been reported to cause harm.1,2
What does a label say about people under 18?
The only label that speaks to age is for a prescription tablet that combines pyridoxine with doxylamine, an antihistamine. It says safety and effectiveness in children under 18 have not been established and warns that fatalities have been reported from doxylamine overdose in children. These warnings concern the antihistamine in the tablet, not vitamin B6 alone.4
What nerve effects are reported with too much B6?
Taking 1 to 6 g of pyridoxine a day for 12 to 40 months can cause severe, progressive sensory neuropathy, with loss of control of body movements. The symptoms usually stop if the supplement is stopped as soon as they appear.1,2
None of the sources checked reports nerve effects in children from supplements at the amounts in a multivitamin. The harm data NIH describes come from adults taking large amounts, and both NIH and EFSA say the limits for children are set from the adult limit by body size.2,3
Who should ask a doctor before a child or teen takes vitamin B6?
- A pediatrician, before giving a B6 supplement to a child.1
- A pharmacist or doctor, for a child or teen who takes an anti-seizure medicine, since NIH lists these medicines as interacting with B6.2
- A doctor, for any child who develops numbness, tingling or unsteadiness while taking B6.2
- A pharmacist, to add up B6 from a multivitamin, a gummy, a B complex or a fortified food against the limit for the child's age.2,3
Questions people ask
Is vitamin B6 safe for kids?
NIH's US upper limits rise with age, from 30 mg a day at 1 to 3 years to 80 mg at 14 to 18, while Europe's 2023 limits are lower, from 3.2 to 4.5 mg for ages 1 to 6. Ask a pediatrician before giving a supplement.2,3
Is vitamin B6 safe for toddlers?
NIH's US limit at ages 1 to 3 is 30 mg a day counting food and supplements, and Europe's limit for ages 1 to 6 is 3.2 to 4.5 mg. Ask a pediatrician before giving a supplement to a toddler.1,3
Is vitamin B6 good for teens?
NIH lists a recommended amount for teens and an upper limit of 80 mg a day at ages 14 to 18. The sources checked report no trials of supplements in healthy teens. Ask a doctor about any particular reason.1,2
Is vitamin B6 ok for kids?
NIH says high intakes of vitamin B6 from food have not been reported to cause harm, and the limits count supplements as well. Ask a pediatrician before giving a supplement.2
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Sources
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B6: Fact Sheet for Consumers. Updated June 16, 2023. Opened 2026-10-07.
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B6: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated June 16, 2023. Opened 2026-10-07.
- EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA). Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for vitamin B6. EFSA J. 2023;21(5):e08006. Opened 2026-10-07.
- Doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride delayed-release tablets: prescribing information (Actavis Pharma). DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Published November 17, 2025. Opened 2026-10-11.
This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.