Vitamin B6 is a vitamin that dissolves in water. It helps many body reactions, including how you use protein and how your nerves send signals. This test measures your level. Your doctor may order this test when looking into signs of too little or too much B6, or conditions that affect how you absorb nutrients.

What is a normal protein metabolism vitamin range?

A typical adult range is around Normal (as pyridoxal phosphate): 5–50 ng/mL (Institute of Medicine / NIH reference). No India-specific national reference interval is published for this parameter; your lab's printed range is the most reliable comparison. Ranges vary by lab, method and equipment — the range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result.

Vitamin B6 — What It Means in Your Blood Test

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This vitamin helps your body use protein for energy and make chemicals your brain and nerves need.

This Vitamin B6 result reflects how much of the nutrient is available in your blood right now. Keeping it in good supply helps you turn protein into fuel and keeps brain and nerve signals flowing.

Also known as: pyridoxine, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, P5P, PLP, pyridoxal phosphate

Kept in balance

This isn't a case where higher or lower is better. Your body keeps it in a narrow band, and both directions can matter.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-16

What is Vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6 is a vitamin that dissolves in water. It helps many body reactions, including how you use protein and how your nerves send signals. This test measures your level.

Why is Vitamin B6 tested?

Your doctor may order this test when looking into signs of too little or too much B6, or conditions that affect how you absorb nutrients.

What is a normal Vitamin B6 range?

India: No India-specific national reference interval is published for this parameter; your lab's printed range is the most reliable comparison.
Global: Normal (as pyridoxal phosphate): 5–50 ng/mL (Institute of Medicine / NIH reference)

Ranges vary by lab, method and equipment — the range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result.

Source: [Institute of Medicine, 1998]

What does your Vitamin B6 value mean?

There is no widely-accepted set of value bands for this parameter. Compare your result with the reference range printed on your own report, and discuss it with your doctor.

What does a high Vitamin B6 result mean?

A very high level, usually from high-dose supplements over time, is linked to nerve symptoms. These can include tingling or numbness worth discussing with your doctor.

What does a low Vitamin B6 result mean?

A low level can cause skin changes, nerve symptoms, and a form of anaemia (low red blood cells).

What can affect your Vitamin B6 result?

Poultry, fish, and potatoes
Age
Kidney function
Long-term heavy drinking
Some immune or gut conditions

Questions to ask your doctor

About this result

What does my Vitamin B6 result mean for me specifically, given my age and health?
Is my Vitamin B6 in the range that is right for me, not just the lab's general range?

What to do next

Could anything I eat, do, or take have affected my protein metabolism vitamin result?
Is there anything I should do about my Vitamin B6, or is it fine to leave as it is?

About retesting

Does my Vitamin B6 need to be repeated, and if so, when?
The typical range for Vitamin B6 can vary between labs — should I compare my result against my own lab's printed range?

The bigger picture

Should my Vitamin B6 be looked at together with my Vitamin D (25-OH) and Vitamin B12 result?
Does my Vitamin B6 connect to any condition I already have, or to anything I have noticed in how I feel?

Frequently asked questions

What is Vitamin B6?: Vitamin B6 is a vitamin that dissolves in water. It helps many body reactions, including how you use protein and how your nerves send signals. This test measures your level. Your doctor may order this test when looking into signs of too little or too much B6, or conditions that affect how you absorb nutrients.
What is a normal protein metabolism vitamin range?: A typical adult range is around Normal (as pyridoxal phosphate): 5–50 ng/mL (Institute of Medicine / NIH reference). No India-specific national reference interval is published for this parameter; your lab's printed range is the most reliable comparison. Ranges vary by lab, method and equipment — the range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result.
What does a high Vitamin B6 result mean?: A very high level, usually from high-dose supplements over time, is linked to nerve symptoms. These can include tingling or numbness worth discussing with your doctor.
What does a low Vitamin B6 result mean?: A low level can cause skin changes, nerve symptoms, and a form of anaemia (low red blood cells).
What can affect your Vitamin B6 result?: Several everyday factors can influence it, including Poultry, fish, and potatoes, Age, Kidney function, Long-term heavy drinking, Some immune or gut conditions.

Sources

Institute of Medicine (1998) — Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline

Part of the Vitamins

See the full Vitamins guide

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