Skip to content
Personalised assessment

Vitamin B6: nausea, fatigue and hormonal balance throughout motherhood

b6
Recognised relief of pregnancy nausea

Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, is one of the most studied and scientifically validated actives for relieving nausea and first-trimester symptoms. Several meta-analyses confirm the importance of this vitamin, making it a valuable natural support during pregnancy.

Energy, sleep and reduction of fatigue

vitamin B6 contributes to normal energy metabolism, the reduction of fatigue and the support of restful sleep. A function that is useful for new mothers, from the desire to conceive through to the postpartum period, including the more demanding phases of everyday life.

Hormonal balance and perimenopause

B6, found in many multivitamin food supplements, contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity, making it a valuable active ingredient during perimenopause and menopause. It fits into products tailored to each stage of a woman's life and is often combined with magnesium and other minerals.

Origin and description

Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, is a water-soluble B-group vitamin, essential to the normal functioning of the body.

Elle existe sous plusieurs formes, dont le pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (P5P), forme active directement utilisable par l'organisme. La B6 intervient dans plus de 100 réactions enzymatiques, notamment dans le métabolisme des protéines, la synthèse des neurotransmetteurs comme la sérotonine et la dopamine, et la formation des globules rouges. Une carence en B6 peut entraîner divers troubles, notamment des symptômes de fatigue, de stress ou cutanés. Ses besoins augmentent en grossesse, en allaitement et en péri-ménopause, périodes où le rôle de cette vitamine est précieux. La forme active P5P est mieux assimilée que la pyridoxine simple.

Dans l'alimentation, la vitamine B6 se retrouve dans : les viandes blanches comme le poulet ou la dinde, les poissons gras comme le saumon ou le thon, les foies, mais aussi les céréales complètes, les pommes de terre, les légumineuses, les bananes, les fruits à coque comme les pistaches, les graines de tournesol et les légumes verts. La levure de bière compte également parmi les meilleures sources. La biodisponibilité de la B6 dépend de la matrice alimentaire et de la cuisson : la chaleur intense, la conservation prolongée et certains modes de transformation peuvent réduire la teneur en cette vitamine et augmenter le risque de carence. Les apports via l'alimentation restent variables selon les régimes.

En complément alimentaire, la vitamine B6 se présente sous deux formes principales : la pyridoxine HCl, forme classique, et le pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (P5P), forme active directement utilisable par l'organisme. Privilégier la forme P5P permet une meilleure assimilation. C'est le choix retenu par Jolly Mama dans ses multivitamines grossesse Baby Bump, Bump Essentials et Bump Powder, qui associent la B6 à d'autres minéraux, ainsi que dans Mama Essentials pour la réduction de la fatigue et le soutien du sommeil au quotidien, et dans Péri Essentials pour l'accompagnement de la péri-ménopause. Les critères de qualité à privilégier sont la forme active P5P, l'absence de surdosage et une formulation adaptée à chaque étape de vie.

bye bye nausea 2

Products containing it

  • Pink Balance Pink Balance
    -20%
    Add

    Pink Balance

    Complément équilibre hormonal

    À base de maca, shatavari et vitamines B

    100% bio et naturelle

    Baby Project
    Happy Cycle

    from

    £19.95

    £26.08

    Add
  • Post Essentials verre d'eau avec 2 gélules dans la main
    -15%
    Best seller
    Add

    Post Essentials

    Post-partum multivitamin supplement

    17 nutrients in their best forms

    Covers post-birth nutritional needs and reduces fatigue

    Breastfeeding
    Post-partum

    from

    £23.17

    £28.68

    Add
  • Péri Essentials photo of the perimenopause dietary supplement
    -20%
    New
    Iodine-free
    Add

    Péri Essentials

    Perimenopause vitamin supplement

    Before, during and after the menopause

    17 essential nutrients

    (Peri)menopause

    from

    £19.95

    £26.08

    Add
  • Mama essentials Mama essentials
    -20%
    New
    Iodine-free
    Add

    Mama essentials

    Multivitamin supplement for women

    15 highly bioavailable vitamins and minerals

    100% vegan formula

    For everyone

    from

    £13.31

    £17.38

    Add

Why is vitamin B6 your maternity ally?

  • Relief from nausea and pregnancy symptoms

    Vitamin B6 helps reduce the intensity of nausea and first-trimester symptoms — one of its best-documented benefits.

  • Reduction of tiredness and sleep support

    It contributes to normal energy metabolism, the reduction of tiredness, and restful sleep.

  • Nervous system support and stress relief

    B6 is involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters and contributes to supporting the nervous system in the face of stress.

  • Regulation of hormonal activity

    It contributes to stable hormonal balance, a particularly relevant benefit during the cycle, perimenopause and after giving birth.

  • Formation of red blood cells and daily care

    Vitamin B6 contributes to the formation of red blood cells and to the daily care of women's health.

How does it work? (The science bit)

Vitamin B6 acts as an enzymatic cofactor in more than 100 chemical reactions in the body. In its active form, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, it participates in amino acid metabolism, the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and GABA, and the formation of haemoglobin. This activity explains why this vitamin contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system, the reduction of fatigue, sleep support and the regulation of hormonal activity. Requirements increase during pregnancy, where it supports the development of the unborn child, and during the perimenopause, where it accompanies hormonal adjustments. A deficiency can lead to various disorders, neurological symptoms, stress and persistent fatigue.

The efficacy of B6 in pregnancy nausea is one of the most scientifically validated benefits. Several randomised clinical trials and meta-analyses have demonstrated a significant reduction in the intensity of nausea and first-trimester symptoms compared to placebo. A Cochrane review also confirms the importance of this vitamin for pregnant women. In Jolly Mama's Baby Bump, Bump Essentials, Bump Powder, Post essentials, Mama Essentials and Péri Essentials multivitamins, vitamin B6 is provided in its active form pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, in synergy with other minerals and nutrients tailored to each life stage.

Key takeaway: Vitamin B6, in its active P5P form, is one of the most well-validated actives against first-trimester nausea (10 to 25 mg, 2 to 3 times per day). It also supports fatigue, sleep and hormonal balance during the perimenopause. In Jolly Mama multivitamins, it is combined with the other B vitamins.

Your questions, our answers.

Oui, c'est l'un des bénéfices les mieux documentés de la vitamine B6. Plusieurs études cliniques randomisées et méta-analyses ont montré qu'une supplémentation en B6 contribue à réduire l'intensité des nausées du premier trimestre. Les doses étudiées vont généralement de 10 à 25 mg par prise, à raison de deux à trois prises par jour, soit 30 à 75 mg au total. Ne vous supplémentez pas à des doses aussi élevées sans avis médical. La B6 s'intègre dans des solutions naturelles contre les nausées. Si les nausées sont sévères, un suivi médical reste indispensable.

Vitamin B6 is rarely taken on its own, but rather incorporated into comprehensive multivitamin supplements tailored to each stage of life. This is the rationale behind prenatal or peri-menopause multivitamin products, which combine B6, B9, B12 and other cofactors for a synergistic effect. A single daily dose, generally in the morning with a meal, is usually sufficient.

Vitamin B6 is generally very well tolerated at the doses used in multivitamin food supplements. At very high doses — above 25 mg per day over long periods — it may cause reversible neurological effects that resolve upon discontinuation. This is why it is important to follow the recommended intakes and not to combine several concentrated sources.

Vitamin B6 remains safe at the doses recommended by the EFSA:

Recommended daily intake of vitamin B6

  • Adult woman: 1.6 mg
  • Pregnant woman: 1.8 mg
  • Breastfeeding woman: 1.7 mg
  • Upper safety limit: 25 mg/day

If you are taking several supplements containing B6 at the same time, or if you have a specific medical condition, seek advice from a healthcare professional to ensure there is no excessive accumulation over time.

Pyridoxine HCl is the standard form found in supplements. It must be converted into pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (P5P) by the liver, via an enzymatic phosphorylation step. P5P is the active form that can be used directly by the body. This conversion may be less efficient in cases of liver disorders, zinc deficiency, or genetic variants such as certain MTHFR gene mutations. Choosing the P5P form, which is more stable and directly bioavailable, is therefore an interesting option. It is the form selected by Jolly Mama in Baby Bump, Bump Essentials, Bump Powder, Post essentials, Mama Essentials and Péri Essentials.

Oui, la vitamine B6 contribue à la régulation de l'activité hormonale, ce qui en fait un actif particulièrement intéressant pendant la péri-ménopause. Elle accompagne aussi la réduction de la fatigue et le sommeil, fréquemment perturbés pendant cette transition. Dans les multivitamines péri-ménopause Péri Essentials, la B6 est associée à un cocktail de minéraux et nutriments choisis pour soutenir les ajustements hormonaux.

added to basket
Continue shopping