What Causes Abnormal Vitamin B6 Levels?

To successfully treat and prevent recurrence of abnormal vitamin B6 levels we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow abnormal vitamin B6 levels to develop?"

Diagnose your symptoms now!

let The Analyst™ find what's wrong
see your health summarized and in detail
learn what you should be doing right now

Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind abnormal vitamin B6 levels consists of three steps:

Step 1: List the Possible Causative Factors

Identify all disease conditions, lifestyle choices and environmental risk factors that can lead to abnormal vitamin B6 levels. Here are two possibilities:

Nutritional Deficiency Anemia
Pyroluria

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

Identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

sensitivity to bright light

small social support group size

lighter/paler skin color

being a recovered alcoholic

minor joint pain/swelling/stiffness

frequent unexplained nausea

being prone to 'stitches'

severe fatigue after slight exertion

no desire to eat breakfast

chronic nausea

being an unsocial person

forgetting dreams

... and so on

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of abnormal vitamin B6 levels:

Cause	Probability	Status
Nutritional Deficiency Anemia	94%	Confirm
Pyroluria	55%	Possible

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate having had recent lab tests, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). Unit: ng/mL [nmol/L]

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ Confirmed deficiency in the past
→ Under 4 [16] (low)
→ 4 to 18 [16-73] (normal)
→ Over 18 [73] (elevated)

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate history of B6 deficiency, low B6 levels, normal B6 levels or high B6 levels, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Nutritional Deficiency Anemia

Pyroluria

A functional pyridoxine deficiency is common in pyroluria (often seen in alcoholics), due not so much to inadequate intake as impaired conversion to its active form, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, and enhanced degradation.

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™