A neurologist has issued a warning as he claims a common supplement could become “toxic”. According to the expert, taking too much of this vitamin could result in damaged sensory neurons.

A neurologist has sounded the alarm about a widely-used supplement, cautioning that excessive intake could lead to toxicity. This medical expert suggests that overconsumption of certain vitamins may harm sensory neurons.

Our bodies thrive on a variety of vitamins and minerals, which are essential for optimal function. While a nutritious, well-rounded diet typically provides these nutrients, some individuals may turn to supplements for additional support.

However, supplements come with their own set of warnings. In a TikTok video, a neurologist delves into these concerns.

Dr. Baibing Chen, known as Dr. Bing, highlighted that not all vitamins are harmless. He explained, “Many people assume that because vitamins are natural and available over the counter, they pose no risk, but that’s not entirely accurate.”

According to Dr. Bing, “Certain vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K, can indeed become toxic. These are fat-soluble and can accumulate in your system over time.”

He further noted, “Even water-soluble vitamins like B and C, which are often believed to be harmless because they can be excreted, are not always without risk.”

It also allows the body to form haemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body. B6 can be found naturally in food such as pork, poultry, peanuts, soya beans, oats, and bananas.

Dr Bing continued: “One that surprises people is vitamin B6, and you can overdose on it.

“I’ve seen this several times as a neurologist, and at high levels, B6 becomes more toxic, and it disrupts normal neuronal signalling and can overstimulate and damage sensory neurons, which then lead to degeneration of those nerve fibres.”

This can result in symptoms such as peripheral neuropathy. Dr Bing said: “That’s why patients will develop numbness, tingling, burning, pain, and balance problems because the brain is getting distorted or incomplete sensory input.”

However, he clarified that this risk doesn’t come from just one large dose of B6. “The biggest issue is not someone taking a massive dose at once, but it’s rather stacking,” he said.

“I had a young patient taking multivitamins plus energy drinks every day, plus an anti-stress supplement, plus a sleep supplement. None of them seem extreme, but they all had B6 and he had no idea, and he ended up with neuropathy.

“Even after stopping it, recovery is not always complete. Now, to be clear, I’m not against supplements; I recommend them to patients when they’re indicated, and I take some myself.

“But it needs to be individualised. And we need to be smart about it and be evidence-based.”

What does the NHS say?

His advice is backed by the NHS website, which warns that too much B6 can lead to peripheral neuropathy. It says: “Taking 200mg or more a day of vitamin B6 can lead to a loss of feeling in the arms and legs known as peripheral neuropathy.

“This will usually improve once you stop taking the supplements. But in a few cases when people have taken large amounts of vitamin B6, particularly for more than a few months, the effect can be permanent.

“The effect of taking vitamin B6 at doses between 10mg and 200mg is unclear. So there’s not enough evidence to say how long these doses could be taken for safely.”

The health body adds that you should not take more than 10mg of vitamin B6 a day in supplements unless advised to by a doctor.