Supplementary Memorandum submitted by
the Director of Political Campaigns, Consumers for Health Choice
(E54)
VITAMIN B6—ORAL EVIDENCE BY THE MINISTER
Whilst giving oral evidence to your Committee
on 19 May, the Minister for Food Safety, Jeff Rooker MP, made
reference to the fact that the British Medical Association had
not opposed his proposals, and he implied that this could be taken
as their endorsement of his proposed new limits on the retail
sale of this product.
I cannot, of course, speak for the British Medical
Association, but the absence of any comment from them on this
matter can just as credibly be argued to imply their opposition
to his proposals, particularly since the 1998 edition of "The
British Medical Association New Guide to Medicines and Drugs"
(a "family reference" book) includes the following statement:
"breast fed infants and elderly people may
require additional pyridoxine....may also be recommended to prevent
or treat deficiency that is caused by alcoholism and treatment
with drugs....may also help relieve depression caused by a deficiency
of the vitamin in women taking oestrogen containing oral contraceptives
and may help prevent morning sickness in pregnancy. Premenstrual
tension with symptoms of depression and irritability, and breast
tenderness may also be relieved by supplements".
In terms of dosages, it then says:
"deficiency resulting from genetic defects
that prevent use of the vitamin is treated with doses of2-15 mg
daily in infants and 10-250 mg daily in adults and children. Daily
doses of 50 mg given with other B vitamins from day 10 of a menstrual
cycle to day 3 of the following cycle may help relieve premenstrual
syndrome".
And in terms of safety it says:
"daily doses of over 500 mg taken over a
prolonged period may damage the nervous system resulting in unsteadiness,
numbness, and clumsiness of the hands".
I hope that you and your Committee find these
brief extracts of interest and assistance in putting straight
the record.
22 May 1998
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