VITAMIN-B6 AND COGNITIVE-DEVELOPMENT - RECENT RESEARCH FINDINGS FROM HUMAN AND ANIMAL STUDIES

Numerous studies have suggested that pregnant and lactating women may have dietary intakes of vitamin B6 that are well below the recommended dietary allowance, which may affect the vitamin B6 status of their of fspring. This nutrient is an essential cofactor in the developing cent ral nervous system and may influence brain development and cognitive f unction. Recent work in animal models suggests that vitamin B6 deficie ncy during gestation and lactation alters the function of N-methyl-D-a spartate receptors, a subtype of receptors of the glutamatergic neurot ransmitter system thought to play an important role in learning and me mory.