Urinary and Fecal Elimination of B6 and 4-Pyridoxic Acid on Three Levels of Intake

Abstract

Evidence of the synthesis of vitamin B₆ in man has been presented. Elimination of fecal vitamin B₆ and urinary vitamin B₆ and 4-pyridoxic acid on a dietary intake of 0.78 mg was 3.54 mg. The 4-pyridoxic acid accounted for 75% of the total elimination. Data are given which show that the 4-pyridoxic acid values are a measure of the oxidation product of vitamin B₆. Vitamin B₆ alone eliminated in the feces and urine approximated or was slightly in excess of the amount in the basal diet. Daily elimination of vitamin B₆ and 4-pyridoxic acid on the basal diet supplemented by 2 mg pyridoxine HCl was found to be greater than the vitamin intake by 1.68 mg. Approximately 67% of the vitamin intake was recovered in the urine and feces when the basal diet was supplemented by 15 mg pyridoxine HCl. The daily addition of 12 gm sulfasuxidine to the basal diet failed to result in any decrease in the total elimination of vitamin B₆ and 4-pyridoxic acid.