---
title: Does vitamin B6 help side effects from birth control pills? | Niyora
description: Research over 15 years shows that women on birth control pills often have low vitamin B6 levels. Taking 40 mg of vitamin B6 daily improved these levels and re
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/therapy-of-side-effects-of-oral-contraceptive-agents-with-vitamin-b6-1982/
---

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- Does vitamin B6 help side effects from birth control pills?

Study, 1982

# Does vitamin B6 help side effects from birth control pills?

Research over 15 years shows that women on birth control pills often have low vitamin B6 levels. Taking 40 mg of vitamin B6 daily improved these levels and relieved symptoms like depression, anxiety, and low libido.

 Early or limited evidence

Women taking birth control pills

## What they did

Studies over 15 years from different countries measured vitamin B6 levels in women taking birth control pills and tested whether vitamin B6 supplements would help.

## What they found

Women taking birth control pills showed signs of low vitamin B6, with increased tryptophan metabolites similar to natural B6 deficiency. Taking 40 mg daily of vitamin B6 restored normal biochemical values and relieved depression, anxiety, decreased libido, and glucose tolerance problems.

## What it means for you

Vitamin B6 supplements may help some birth control pill side effects. The review covers studies over 15 years, but the exact number of women studied is not specified.

40 mg

Daily vitamin B6 dose

15 years

Duration of studies reviewed

## About the study

Original title Therapy of side effects of oral contraceptive agents with vitamin B6 Authors Bermond P Journal Acta vitaminologica et enzymologica Year 1982 Study design Study What was tested 40 mg vitamin B6 daily Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6889807/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6889807/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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