Effect of vitamin B6 deficiency on the levels of several water-soluble vitamins in tissues of germ-free and conventional rats.

Abstract

The influence of vitamin B6 deficiency on the levels of several water-soluble vitamins and on acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase activity was investigated using germ-free and conventional rats. Judging from the vitamin B6 levels in tissues and the percent of decrease, the degree of vitamin B6 deficiency was more severe in the tissues of deficient germ-free rats than in deficient conventional rats. Nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid and biotin levels per wet weight significantly decreased in the liver of vitamin B6-deficient germ-free rats; nicotinic acid levels per wet weight significantly decreased in the liver of deficient conventional rats. In the kidney of vitamin B6-deficient germ-free rats a significant decrease in riboflavin and biotin levels was observed; there was no observable difference in riboflavin, nicotinic acid, biotin and pantothenic acid levels in the kidney of deficient conventional rats. From an enzymatic standpoint acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase activity was especially significantly decreased in germ-free and conventional rats fed a vitamin B6-deficient diet; the percent of decrease was greater in germ-free rats than in conventional ones. Vitamin B6 deficiency apparently had stronger effects on the levels of water-soluble vitamins in germ-free rats compared to conventional rats.