Response of Human Beings to a Low-Vitamin B6 Diet

Abstract

Eight college students were maintained for 52 days on a diet which was low in vitamin B₆. Blood content of vitamin B₆ dropped to zero within 4 weeks and remained there until a 100 mg supplement of pyridoxine hydrochloride was given. Lymphocyte counts decreased in 5 subjects. Xanthurenic acid excretion, after a test dose of tryptophan, increased to greater than 30 mg per day for 5 of the subjects. No dermal symptoms were evident. The use of lymphocyte counts along with the test dose of tryptophan may prove useful in experimental studies to establish the requirements for vitamin B₆. Results of the present study indicate that the requirement for young college women is above 0.5 mg per day.