Vitamin B6 Depletion in Man: Blood Vitamin B6, Plasma Pyridoxal-phosphate, Serum Cholesterol, Serum Transaminases and Urinary Vitamin B6 and 4-Pyridoxic Acid

Abstract

The effect of vitamin B₆ depletion in man on several biochemical parameters was studied. Feeding a partially purified diet containing 0.16 mg vitamin B₆ resulted in significant decreases in excretion of vitamin B₆ and 4-pyridoxic acid, blood vitamin B₆, plasma pyridoxal-phosphate and serum transaminase activities. After 5 days of depletion, blood vitamin B₆ values were approximately 20% of pre-depletion values, and after 25 days of depletion there was a disappearance of blood vitamin B₆ and of urinary 4-pyridoxic acid. Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase appeared to be affected more than serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase. Supplementation with 0.6 or 0.9 mg pyridoxine caused significant increases in most of the parameters which were affected by vitamin B₆ depletion. Serum cholesterol concentration was not affected by the vitamin B₆ intake.