EFFECT OF VITAMIN-B-6 NUTRITION AND DIABETES ON VITAMIN-B-6 METABOLISM

Vitamin B-6 content, some B-6 dependent enzymes, and alkaline phosphat ase were examined in rat tissues subjected to different nutritional co nditions and treated with or without streptozotocin. There was almost no B-6 in the plasma from the nutritionally deficient rat. The ratio o f pyridoxal phosphate to pyridoxal in the plasma was decreased by inje ction of streptozotocin and was inversely correlated to an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity. Vitamin B-6 content in the liver of th e nutritionally deficient rats was approximately 50% of that of the co ntrols and this decrease correlated to aspartate aminotransferase acti vity in this tissue. Vitamin B-6 content in the skeletal muscle from t he nutritionally deficient rats decreased to less than 20% of the cont rol level and this decreased level correlated to the glycogen phosphor ylase activity in this tissue. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1997.