Americans love a supplement. About three-quarters of us say we use them, according to a recent survey by the Council for Responsible Nutrition.
But vitamin pills are still drugs and, in large enough doses, can cause side effects including skin problems, a top dermatologist has warned.
Dr Charles Puzaa New York-based board-certified dermatologist, took to TikTok to spotlight a lesser-known risk of two of the most popular supplements.
“High doses of vitamins B6 and B12 are associated with causing acne and worsening acne,” he wrote in a text attachment to a video that has so far been viewed 41,000 times.
Alongside his comments were images of bottles containing the capsules, as well as a pack of multivitamins that often contain high doses of the vitamin, he says.
Both B vitamins are important for healthy red blood cells and energy levels. B6 is especially important in helping the body use and store energy from proteins and carbohydrates in food.
Vitamin B12 and B6 can both be found in a range of foods. Vitamin B12 is found in meat, fish, milk and eggs, while B6 is found in pork, poultry, some fish and oats.
According to government guidelines, adults should have around 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 per day, and between 1.3 and 1.7 milligrams of B6, depending on gender and age.
However, some supplements contain far above that. For example, Nature Made’s Super B Energy Complex, nutritional supplement for supporting brain cell function, contains six micrograms of B12.
Research shows that 75 percent of Americans say they use supplements, and about half say they take them regularly.
And the same brand’s B6 tablets contain 100 mg of B6 per tablet – 58 times the recommended amount.
While other side effects only occur with megadoses of B12 – such as above 500 or 1000 – Dr. Puza that acne can be a side effect of your drugstore supplements.
Some experts say that taking about 50 mg of vitamin B6 can increase the risk of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and nerve problems.
Other experts have explained that the substance can enter the bloodstream and somehow interact with the bacteria living on your skin, causing pimples.
A 2015 study of acne patients showed that an injection of vitamin B12 can change the DNA of a common acne bacteria in the pores.
Other research has found that vitamin B12 may help the microorganism behind acne, called Propionobacterium acnes, stay alive by helping them breathe.
An evaluation in 2020 published in the journal Dermatology Online concluded that high doses of vitamin B6 can cause skin lesions.
However, it was inconclusive as to the underlying biological processes that may be driving this change.