Q: While I was taking 50 milligrams of vitamin B6 daily, I started having symptoms, including nerve pain in my feet and hands.

Then I started walking like Frankenstein. I had lost some of my motor control.

Fortunately, my doctor tested me for B6 toxicity, and my levels were really high. He said to stop taking the supplement immediately. It took over a year to see any real improvement, but a few years later, I am now much better. Companies should not be allowed to sell vitamin B6 in large doses.

A: Vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, is essential for the proper functioning of nerves. But you need the right amount. Both too little and too much have been linked to neuropathy (Nutrients, June 21, 2023). Symptoms of nerve damage may include numbness or tingling, weakness, problems with balance and pain.

As far as we can tell, no studies demonstrate that vitamin B6 supplements at the level of the RDA, which is below 3 milligrams / day, causes problems. The Food and Nutrition Board has set the tolerable upper limit for American adults at 100 milligrams, but some readers have reported difficulties after long-term use of 50 milligrams. We suspect that some people are especially vulnerable to nerve problems even at standard levels.

To get vitamin B6 from food rather than pills, consider including chickpeas, beef liver, turkey, chicken breast, tuna or salmon in your diet.

Q: I can’t take statins because of horrible side effects, so I changed my eating habits. My morning routine is blueberries, flax seed meal, chopped walnuts and ground chia seeds with either Cheerios and milk, or plain whole-milk yogurt and muesli.

I also take four milk thistle capsules a week.

My total cholesterol dropped 62 points in one year, although by medical standards, it is still high.

Because of a recent surgery, I had to have a chemical stress test done. The highest my blood pressure ever got during the procedure was 148/90, so I’m not too worried about my cholesterol or heart. My blood pressure is normally about 115/75.

A: Thank you for sharing your sensible regimen. Sometimes people don’t realize that they can make a big difference in their cholesterol numbers based on their diet plus supplements.

Years ago, a reader named Laura Effel told us about her successful strategy for lowering her blood lipids and gave us permission to publish it. Anyone who would like to try it will find it in our “eGuide to Cholesterol Control & Heart Health.”

This online resource is under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

Breakfast plays an important role in both your regimens, along with soluble fiber such as flax seed meal.

Q: Do you have a solution for snoring? My husband has been complaining that I wake him up, and I don’t know what to do.

A: First, you will want to check with your health care provider about evaluating whether your snoring indicates sleep apnea. This breathing problem could disturb sleep and lead to cardiovascular complications. It is usually treated with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine.

If there is no sign of sleep apnea, you might consider singing. Several years ago, a reader reported that half an hour of singing during the day eliminated nighttime snoring. Playing a wind instrument also works and can reduce sleep apnea as well (Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Sept. 15, 2020).

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.