Vitamin B6 supplements with the fewest additives
Vitamin B6 (in pyridoxine HCL or P5P form) may help regulate homocysteine and prolactin levels, fight kidney stones, improve dermatitis, and more. However, many B6 supplements contain more than just the active ingredient. For example, silica or silicon dioxide are often added to prevent caking, hypromellose (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) as an emulsifier or thickener, and gums to bind ingredients together.
I try to avoid these additives because they may have questionable health effects. If you want to do the same, my recommendations are:
Recommended as minimum-additive B6 capsules
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
- affordable
Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), rice flour, gelatin (capsule).
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
- uses the possibly better-absorbed P5P form
Vitamin B-6 (as P5P: pyridoxal 5-phosphate), gelatin capsule (kosher), arrowroot flour (hypoallergenic).
Recommended as pure B6 powders
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
- affordable
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCL).
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
- uses the possibly better-absorbed P5P form
Vitamin B6 (as P5P: pyridoxal 5-phosphate).
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
- affordable
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCL).
In the UK?
iHerb will ship the recommended NOW Foods capsules from the US for a reasonable price, as will BulkSupplements and Purebulk with their powders, or you can try these UK brands:
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
Pyridoxyl-5-phosphate, purified water.
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
Pyridoxine HCL, purified water.
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
Pyridoxal 5 phosphate, purified water, potassium carbonate.
Outside the US/UK?
iHerb will ship the recommended NOW Foods capsules from the US for a reasonable price, as will BulkSupplements and Purebulk with their powders.
If you frequently need US-based products, Reship.com and MyUS.com can forward packages to you from the US.
If you find a better option in your country, please let me know in the comments.
Other vitamin B6 supplements
The following are other vitamin B6 supplements I'm aware of, sorted alphabetically.
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| 21st Century Health Care B-6 (Tablets) | Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine Hydrochloride), calcium (as calcium carbonate), cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, silicon dioxide, stearic acid, magnesium stearate. |
| Bluebonnet Nutrition Magnesium Plus B-6 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine HCI), magnesium (aspartate, oxide), 100% kosher vegetable capsules, vegetable cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate. |
| Cardiovascular Research Ltd. Pyridoxal 5' Phosphate (Tablets) | Calcium (as tricalcium phosphate), Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal-5-phosphate), microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, calcium stearate, stearic acid, acacia gum, food glaze. |
| Carlson Labs B-6 (Tablets) | Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), dicalcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate (veg, ), silicon dioxide, stearic acid (veg, ), may contain ethylcellulose, methylcellulose, croscarmellose sodium, pharmaceutical glaze. |
| Carlson Labs B-6 Liquid | Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), sorbitol (a sweetener found naturally in fruit), citric acid, methyl-propyl parabens, purified water, vegetarian. |
| Country Life Gluten Free Active B6 Caps P5P/PAK (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal 5' phosphate, pyridoxine alpha-ketoglutarate, pyridoxine hydrochloride), cellulose, cellulose (capsule shell), stearic acid, magnesium stearate, silica. |
| Country Life Gluten Free P-5-P (Pyridoxal 5' Phosphate) (Tablets) | Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxal 5' phosphate), calcium (as calcium carbonate), cellulose, magnesium stearate, cellulose & glycerin coating, stearic acid, silica, vegetable glaze. |
| Country Life Gluten Free Vitamin B6 (Tablets) | Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), cellulose, stearic acid, cellulose & glycerin coating, silica, magnesium stearate, vegetable glaze. |
| Designs for Health Sublingual B-6 (Liquid) | Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCL and pyridoxal-5-phosphate), magnesium (as magnesium mono-aspartate), zinc (as TRAACS zinc glycinate chelate), vegetable glycerine, deionized water, citric acid, raspberry natural flavor. |
| Epigenetics Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine (Liquid) | Pyridoxine hydrochloride, purified water, citric acid. |
| EuroPharma Terry Naturally P-5-P/Mag (Capsules) | Vitamin B6 (from pyridoxal-5-phosphate), magnesium (as magnesium glycinate chelate), vegetable cellulose capsules, cellulose powder, silicon dioxide and vegetable source magnesium stearate. |
| Kirkman Labs Vitamin B-6 (Capsules) | Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), microcrystalline cellulose, pyridoxine hydrochloride, silicon dioxide, plant cellulose capsule. |
| Life Extension Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate Caps (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal 5'-phosphate), microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable cellulose (capsule), vegetable stearate, silicon dioxide. |
| Metabolics Vitamin B6 P-5-P (Veggie Capsules) | Pyridoxal-5-phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose (derived from alpha cellulose wood pulp), methylcellulose capsules. |
| Natrol Vitamin B-6 (Capsules) | Vitamin B-6 (from pyridoxine hydrochloride), cellulose, gelatin, water, stearic scid, magnesium stearate, silica. |
| Natural Factors B6 Pyridoxine HCl (Tablets) | Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), cellulose, magnesium stearate (vegetable grade). |
| Nature Made Vitamin B-6 (Tablets) | Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), calcium carbonate, cellulose gel, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, maltodextrin, magnesium stearate. |
| Nature's Bounty Natural KLB6 Complete (Softgels) | Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), soy lecithin, cider vinegar, kelp, soybean oil, gelatin, vegetable glycerin, yellow beeswax, sodium free. |
| Nature's Bounty Vitamin B-6 (Tablets) | Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), dicalcium phosphate, vegetable cellulose, vegetable stearic acid, silica, vegetable magnesium stearate. |
| Nature's Way Vitamin B-6 (Capsules) | Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl), cellulose, gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate, nature's way vitamin B-6 contains no artificial ingredients, preservatives, yeast, milk, lactose, wheat. |
| Now Foods B-6 (Tablets) | Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), cellulose, stearic acid (vegetable source), and magnesium stearate (vegetable source). |
| Now Foods P-5-P (Tablets) | Riboflavin (vitamin B-2), vitamin B-6 (from 50 mg coenzyme pyridoxal-5-phosphate), calcium (from dicalcium phosphate), magnesium (from 75% magnesium oxide and 25% magnesium taurinate), croscarmellose sodium, cellulose, stearic acid (vegetable source), magnesium stearate (vegetable source) and enteric coating, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients, produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. |
| Pure Encapsulations P5P 50 (Veggie Capsules) | Pyridoxal-5-phosphate (activated B6), vitamin C (as ascorbyl palmitate), hypo-allergenic plant fiber (cellulose from pesticide-free Southern pine, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), vegetarian capsule (cellulose from pesticide-free Southern pine, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, water). |
| Rexall Sundown Naturals B-6 (Tablets) | Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), dicalcium phosphate, cellulose (plant origin), croscarmellose, vegetable stearic acid, silica, vegetable magnesium stearate. |
| Solgar P-5-P (Tablets) | Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, methacrylic acid, vegetable cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate, riboflavin, titanium dioxide, glyceryl triacetate, vegetable glycerin. |
| Source Naturals B-6 (Tablets) | Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine HCl), dibasic calcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, modified cellulose gum, colloidal silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate. |
| Source Naturals Coenzymated B-6 (Sublingual Tablets) | Vitamin B-6 (from 25 mg pyridoxal-5'-phosphate [coenzymated]), sorbitol, mannitol, natural peppermint flavor, magnesium stearate, and modified cellulose gum. |
| Source Naturals Coenzymated B-6 (Tablets) | Vitamin B-6 (from 100 mg pyridoxal-5'-phosphate [coenzymated]), microcrystalline cellulose, stearic, acid and silica. |
| Spring Valley Vitamin B-6 (Tablets) | Vitamin B-6 (from pyridoxine hydrochloride), dextrose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and magnesium stearate. |
| Thorne Research Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal 5'-phosphate), microcrystalline cellulose, hypromellose (derived from cellulose) capsule, leucine, silicon dioxide. |
| Twinlab B-6 Caps (Capsules) | Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), potato starch, gelatin, purified water, MCT, silica, magnesium stearate. |