Beer provides substantial vitamin B6 levels study finds

A pint of beer can provide substantial levels of vitamin B6, with a standard serving meeting around 15% of the daily requirement, according to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Researchers analyzed 65 German beers and found total vitamin B6 concentrations ranging from 95 to over 1,000 micrograms per litre. Bock beer contained the highest levels, averaging around 808 micrograms per litre, while wheat and rice beers had the lowest concentrations. The study authors said variations in vitamin B6 composition were primarily associated with raw materials rather than with brewing technology. Barley contains nearly four times as much vitamin B6 as rice, and beer brewed from barley has significantly higher overall B6 contents, they added.

Alcohol-free lager showed no significant difference in vitamin B6 content compared to regular lager, the study found. The brewing technique of allowing full fermentation and then physically removing alcohol has a positive impact on B6 concentration, according to the researchers. The highest-scoring alcohol-free lager sample contained 761 micrograms per litre of B6. A standard 500ml bottle of that beer would cover roughly a quarter of a woman's recommended daily B6 intake, the study authors said.

The findings come amid concerns about vitamin B6 deficiency. Around one in five European teenagers have insufficient B6 levels, and low B6 has been linked to depression, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation. However, the World Health Organization has stated there is no completely safe level of alcohol consumption, and alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. The study did not compare B6 levels in beer to other dietary sources, nor did it examine other nutrients in beer or the health risks of alcohol-free versus regular beer. The representativeness of German beers for other countries' beers was also not addressed.