Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

A B vitamin central to energy metabolism, nerve function, and amino acid processing.

Last reviewedJune 16, 2026

Plasma

sample type

~3 mL

blood needed

~7 days

results in app

Any time of day

best timing

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Why test Reference ranges What you'll learn What affects it How testing works Sources FAQ

In short

Vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin involved in hundreds of enzyme reactions, especially those handling proteins and amino acids. It supports the nervous system, the formation of red blood cells, and immune function.

Blood testing usually measures pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP), the active form of the vitamin in plasma, which is the best single indicator of B6 status.

Vitamins & Minerals

Reviewed against DGKL reference practice.

Why test this?

Vitamin B6 is needed for normal nerve function, the breakdown of homocysteine, and red blood cell production. Low levels can contribute to nerve symptoms, anaemia, and raised homocysteine.

Testing helps confirm whether intake is adequate and is useful when assessing nerve symptoms or planning supplementation. Notably, very high B6 from over-supplementation can itself cause nerve problems, so more is not better.

What is a normal result?

Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.

Adult reference values as used by Aniva. Ranges are guidance and can vary by laboratory and method.

Group	Normal range
Adults	8.7 to 27.2 µg/L

Your Aniva report reads your result against these values together with your age, sex and the rest of your panel.

Ranges are guidance and vary by lab and assay, aligned with DGKL practice. Always read your result against your own lab's reference interval.

What insights will this test give you?

You learn whether your B6 level is low, adequate, or high. A low result suggests inadequate status, which can relate to poor intake, certain medications, or higher needs. A very high result usually reflects supplementation, which in excess can cause nerve symptoms.

What can affect this result?

What can skew the result

PLP is light-sensitive, so poor sample handling can lower results. Recent supplementation can raise levels markedly. Inflammation can lower plasma PLP independently of intake. Certain medications can reduce B6 status.

Best interpreted with

Read alongside homocysteine, and with other B vitamins such as folate and B12 when assessing nerve symptoms or anaemia.

How is this tested?

Sample

Plasma

Blood needed

~3 mL

Method

HPLC

Best timing

Any time of day

Sources. The evidence behind this

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B6

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung: Vitamin B6 reference values

EFSA: Dietary Reference Values for vitamin B6

Common questions

Which Aniva panels include this marker?

Vitamins Advanced

These tests assess key vitamins for nerve, blood, bone, and energy function.