BLOOD TRANSAMINASE ACTIVITIES IN VITAMIN B6DEFICIENCY: SPECIFICITY AND SENSITIVITY

Abstract

The lowering of blood glutamic–oxaloacetic (GOT) and glutamic–pyruvic (GPT) transaminase activities was found to be specific for vitamin B₆deprivation among several B vitamins tested and in the presence of a simultaneous restriction of eight B vitamins, cortisone administration, or variation of dietary protein level. It was found that changes in blood transaminase activity did not always parallel those seen in liver transaminase activity. In the determination of vitamin B₆nutritional status, blood GPT activity appeared to be more sensitive than GOT activity and would seem to be as sensitive an indicator as xanthurenic acid excretion after a tryptophan load.