Vitamin B6 and contraceptive side effects in Cambodian women
What it found
In a study of 1011 women in rural Cambodia, those taking a daily vitamin B6 supplement reported fewer side effects from oral contraceptives, including nausea, headache and depression.
The study was done in people.
What they found
Studies in people
Fewer side effects overall
Women taking vitamin B6 reported fewer side effects than women in the control group. The difference was seen throughout the study.
Nausea and appetite
48.2% of women in the control group reported nausea or no appetite, compared with 27.4% of women taking vitamin B6.
Headache
29.7% of women in the control group reported headache, compared with 19.8% of women taking vitamin B6.
Depression
19.8% of women in the control group reported depression, compared with 11.8% of women taking vitamin B6.
Stopping the pill
Vitamin B6 did not make a statistically significant difference to whether women stopped taking the contraceptive because of side effects. The overall one year continuation rate was 59%.
Weight and side effects
Women with lower weight or a low body mass index reported more side effects than normal weight women. More women with a BMI of 18.5 to 20 reported nausea than women with a BMI of 20 or above.
What the authors conclude
“Women taking Vitamin B6 supplement were less likely to report side effects in a nutritionally vulnerable population.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that women taking vitamin B6 were less likely to report side effects in a nutritionally vulnerable population.
- They advise that clinicians and reproductive health policy makers should consider underlying nutrition status when providing contraceptive services.
- They call for further investigation into micronutrient supplementation, particularly with B6, in reproductive-aged women using hormonal contraception in other settings.
How it was done
Hormonal contraceptives can cause side effects that stop women from using them, and these effects may be worse in women who lack nutrients. Past studies could not agree on whether vitamin supplements help.
They followed 1011 women who were starting oral contraceptives through public health centres in rural Cambodia. 577 women were given a daily 25 mg vitamin B6 tablet and 434 women received usual care without a placebo. Women were followed for at least six months, with some followed for 9 to 12 months.
What it can’t tell you
- The study relied on women reporting their own side effects, which can be biased.
- The control group did not receive a placebo, so women knew whether they were taking the supplement.
- The study cannot show whether vitamin B6 would have the same effect in other populations or with different doses.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Ministry of Health, Cambodia; Tulane University, USA
The paper
- Title
- Supplementation with vitamin B6 reduces side effects in Cambodian women using oral contraception
- Type
- Clinical trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Var C, Keller S, Tung R, Freeland D, Bazzano AN (2014). Supplementation with vitamin B6 reduces side effects in Cambodian women using oral contraception. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu6093353Free full textPubMed 25163030DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error