EFSA Opens Public Consultation for Vitamin B6 Dietary Reference Values

05 Feb 2016 --- The European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched an open consultation on its draft scientific opinion on dietary reference values (DRVs) for vitamin B6. This document proposes recommendations for adults, infants and children, pregnant and lactating women.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) derives DRVs for vitamin B6.

In line with EFSA’s policy on openness and transparency, and in order for EFSA to receive comments from the scientific community and stakeholders, EFSA has launched a public consultation on the draft document developed by the NDA Panel.

EFSA will assess all comments from interested parties which are submitted in line with the criteria above. The comments will be further considered by the relevant EFSA Panel and taken into consideration if found to be relevant.

Vitamin B6 includes pyridoxine compounds and all of its respective phosphorylated forms. All of these derivatives are present in food. 

The most typical features of vitamin B6 deficiency, although rare, are hypochromic microcytic anaemia and neurological abnormalities (convulsive seizures, abnormal electroencephalograms).  Although it is a water-soluble vitamin and is excreted in the urine, excessive doses of vitamin B6 over long periods of time results in painful and ultimately irreversible neurological problems.

The deadline for written comments is 16 March 2016.