Elevated plasma homocysteine is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Exercise is generally believed to reduce the plasma homocysteine levels and therefore, being beneficial for cardiovascular disease(CVD). However, there is a possibility that athletes undergoing strenuous training and competition which increase oxidative stress may suffer from increased plasma homocysteine levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of endurance training on the plasma concentrations of B vitamins and homocysteine in 23 male adolescent field hockey players. Data collection and blood sampling was performed during the training period and non-training period. Following the training period, significant changes in energy and vitamin B6 intakes were observed in these subjects. Plasma vitamin B2, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and homocysteine levels were significantly higher during the training period than non-training period, whereas no difference was observed in plasma folate and vitamin B12 levels. Positive correlation was observed between plasma folate and folic acid intakes. When energy, B vitamin intakes were adjusted there was a significant negative correlation between plasma homocysteine levels and plasma riboflavin, folate and vitamin B12 levels. In conclusion, it is suggested that athletes with oxidative stress by strenuous exercise may need B vitamins since riboflavin, folic acid and vitamin B12 were shown to be negatively correlated with plasma homocysteine in athletes during the training period.
Adolescent* ; Athletes ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Data Collection ; Folic Acid ; Hockey* ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Male* ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma* ; Pyridoxal Phosphate ; Riboflavin ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin B Complex ; Vitamins*

Pyridoxine deficiency and excess have both been implicated as causes of peripheral neuropathy. A 74-year-old man presented with paresthesia in both legs that first appeared 2 months previously. A nerve conduction study revealed axonal sensory polyneuropathy. He had consumed 100 milligrams of pyridoxine every day for 1 year, in the form of vitamin tablets. His blood levels of vitamin B6 were markedly elevated to above 250 nmol/L. This case indicates that the consumption of high-dose pyridoxine can cause sensory polyneuropathy.
Aged ; Axons ; Humans ; Leg ; Neural Conduction ; Paresthesia ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Polyneuropathies* ; Pyridoxine* ; Tablets ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin B 6 Deficiency ; Vitamins

We investigated the nutritional state of B vitamins and the neuropsychological functions in 25 subjects, aged 63.1 +/- 6.3 years, residing in rural areas of Korea. Nutritional states of thiamin, riboflavin, and pyridoxine were assessed enzymatically in the erythrocytes, and folate concentrations were measured microbiologically in the plasma and erythrocytes. A battery of composite neuropsychological test was administered to the subjects. Plasma folate was correlated with the total intelligence score (p=0.049). Folate levels in the erythrocytes were correlated with the performance intelligence scores such as block design (p=0.017) and picture arrangement (p=0.016). The red cell folate was correlated with memory scores such as general memory (p=0.009) and delayed recall (p=0.000). Although it did not reach statistical significance, verbal memory (p=0.053) was highly correlated with the red cell folate. The red cell folate was also correlated positively with the percent of conceptual level response number score (p=0.029), and negatively with the grooved pegboard test score for the non-dominant hand (p=0.010). Fine motor coordination was also influenced by folate nutrition, as finger tapping scores in both hands were significantly correlated with red cell folate (dominant hand; p=0.026, non-dominant hand; p=0.004). Other B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin B6 were not as strongly correlated with neuropsychological function test scores as folate was. These results suggest that folate nutrition influences neuropsychological function test scores significantly in humans. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship between folate or other vitamin B nutrition and neuropsychological functions and the implications thereof.
Aged ; Erythrocytes ; Fingers ; Folic Acid ; Hand ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Korea ; Memory ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Plasma ; Pyridoxine ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin B Complex ; Vitamins

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent research regarding vitamin B6 status including biochemical index is limited. Thus, this study estimated intakes and major food sources of vitamin B6; determined plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP); and assessed vitamin B6 status of Korean adults. MATERIALS/METHODS: Three consecutive 24-h diet recalls and fasting blood samples were collected from healthy 20- to 64-year-old adults (n = 254) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, cities of Kwangju and Gumi, Korea. Vitamin B6 intake and plasma PLP were analyzed by gender and by vitamin B6 supplementation. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine associations of vitamin B6 intake and plasma PLP. RESULTS: The mean dietary and total (dietary plus supplemental) vitamin B6 intake was 1.94 +/- 0.64 and 2.41 +/- 1.45 mg/day, respectively. Median (50th percentile) dietary intake of men and women was 2.062 and 1.706 mg/day. Foods from plant sources provided 70.61% of dietary vitamin B6 intake. Only 6.3% of subjects consumed total vitamin B6 less than Estimated Average Requirements. Plasma PLP concentration of all subjects was 40.03 +/- 23.71 nmol/L. The concentration of users of vitamin B6 supplements was significantly higher than that of nonusers (P < 0.001). Approximately 16% of Korean adults had PLP levels < 20 nmol/L, indicating a biochemical deficiency of vitamin B6, while 19.7% had marginal vitamin B6 status. Plasma PLP concentration showed positive correlation with total vitamin B6 intake (r = 0.40984, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, vitamin B6 intake of Korean adults was generally adequate. However, one-third of subjects had vitamin B6 deficiency or marginal status. Therefore, in some adults in Korea, consumption of vitamin B6-rich food sources should be encouraged.
Adult ; Diet ; Fasting ; Female ; Gwangju ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged* ; Morinda ; Plants ; Plasma ; Pyridoxal ; Seoul ; Vitamin B 6 Deficiency ; Vitamin B 6* ; Vitamins

The purpose of this study was to assess vitamin B6 intake and status in Korean patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Sixty-four patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 8-11% glycated hemoglobin (A1C), along with 28 age-matched non-diabetic subjects, participated. Dietary vitamin B6 intake was estimated by the 24 hour recall method and plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) was measured. There was a significant difference in daily total calorie intake between the diabetic and non-diabetic groups (1,917 +/- 376 vs 2,093 +/- 311 kcal). There were no differences in intake of total vitamin B6 (2.51 +/- 0.91 vs 2.53 +/- 0.81 mg/d) or vitamin B6/1,000 kcal (1.31 +/- 0.42 vs 1.20 +/- 0.32 mg) between the diabetic and non-diabetic groups, andI intakes of total vitamin B6 were above the Korean RDA in both groups (180.0 +/- 57.9 vs 179.0 +/- 65.4). There was a higher percentage of diabetic subjects whose plasma PLP concentration was < 30 nmol/L compared to non-diabetic group. Plasma PLP levels tended to be lower in the diabetic subjects than in the non-diabetic subjects, although the difference was not statistically significant due to a large standard deviation (80.0 +/- 61.2 nmol/L vs 68.2 +/- 38.5 nmol/L). Nevertheless, plasma PLP levels should be monitored in pre-diabetic patients with diabetic risk factors as well as in newly diagnosed diabetic patients for long-term management of diabetes, even though this factor is not a major risk factor that contributes to the development of degenerative complications in certain patients.
Fibrinogen ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Nutrition Policy ; Plasma ; Pyridoxal ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamins

The ginkgo nuts are commonly eaten because of its nutritive value. It also taken as an herbal medicine for its antitussive and expectorant properties throughout Korea, Japan, and China. A range of symptoms of ginkgo nut intoxication including vomiting, abdominal pain, irritability, headaches, and seizures have been reported. It can be fetal in severe cases if emergency care was not available. It was discovered that the toxicity of ginkgo nuts was due to 4-O-methoxypyridoxine. The convulsion can be prevented by administration of anticonvulsants and pyridoxal phosphate. We report a 6-year-old male, without any past or family histories of epilepsy, who presented with generalized tonic clonic seizures. About 7 hours before the seizure, he had consumed approximately 40 roasted ginkgo nuts. He exhibited vomiting and abdominal pain 5 hours after ingestion. After treatment with diazepam and pyridoxal phosphate, his symptoms were resolved and electroencephalogram was normalized. We report on the patient and emphasize pediatricians and parents who have children should be recognizing that neurotoxicity of ginkgo nuts, particularity convulsion inducing effect, can occur occasionally.
Abdominal Pain ; Anticonvulsants ; Child ; China ; Diazepam ; Eating ; Electroencephalography ; Emergency Medical Services ; Epilepsy ; Ginkgo biloba ; Headache ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Male ; Nutritive Value ; Nuts ; Parents ; Pyridoxal Phosphate ; Pyridoxine ; Seizures ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: The authors of the present study investigated whether pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), an active coenzyme of vitamin B6, could inhibit the development of diabetic retinopathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Seven-week-old Spraque-Dawley rats (n = 20) were used in the present study. STZ (70 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. Blood glucose and body weight were monitored. Intraperitoneal injections of 5 microg and 50 microg PLP were administered every two days from the second week of induced diabetes. During the third week of PLP injections, the concentration level of plasma homocysteine was measured. In addition, functional status was examined by vitreous fluorophotometer and anatomical status by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) staining in the retina. RESULTS: Based on vitreous fluorophotometry examination, the PLP injection group proved to have a lower level of fluorescein concentration in the vitreous. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining revealed down-regulation of VEGF expression in the PLP group. In addition, the PLP group had a lower plasma homocysteine concentration. However, an over-dosage injection of PLP did not appear to have any noticeable impact on the treatment of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: PLP, an active coenzyme of vitamin B6, proved to have inhibitory effects on VEGF expression and vascular leakage in the diabetic rat retina.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Down-Regulation ; Fluorescein ; Fluorophotometry ; Homocysteine ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Plasma ; Pyridoxal ; Rats ; Retina ; Streptozocin ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vitamin B 6

The purpose of this study was to establish the selection of indicators for estimating and factors affecting the requirement of vitamin B6. There has been a need to establish the human requirements of vitamin B6 since vitamin B6 is thought to be involved in more than one hundred biochemical reactions as a coenzyme in the metabolism of amino acids, glucose, and lipid, and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. For the review of the literature, this study included from early findings of the sixties to studies of 2009. This study suggests that plasma pyridoxal 5' phosphate (PLP) is the best single indicator of vitamin B6 status for the healthy but not for the non-healthy. Erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activation by PLP as an indirect measure and urinary 4-pyridoxic acid excretion as a direct measure are useful as supporting indicators. Bioavailability, nutrient interaction, physiological need, and chronic diseases may increase the requirement for vitamin B6. However, these effects can not be quantified due to insufficient evidences.
Alanine Transaminase ; Amino Acids ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biological Availability ; Chronic Disease ; Erythrocytes ; Glucose ; Humans ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Plasma ; Pyridoxal ; Pyridoxic Acid ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: To compare the levels of serum homocysteine, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folate in patients with normal-tension glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and high-tension glaucoma. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy subjects, 35 patients with normal-tension glaucoma, 22 patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and 31 patients with high-tension glaucoma were included in the present study. Fasting venous samples were collected from all the participants. The levels of serum homocysteine, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folate were measured. One-way analysis of variance was used for the comparison of homocysteine, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folate levels among the 4 groups. RESULTS: The mean homocysteine levels in the pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and high-tension glaucoma group were 17.91 +/- 5.11 and 17.60 +/- 3.89 micromol/l, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the control group (p = 0.014, p = 0.013, respectively). The mean vitamin B6 levels in the pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and high-tension glaucoma group were 17.67 +/- 14.32 and 17.00 +/- 10.58 nmol/l, respectively, which were significantly lower than that of the control group (p = 0.026, p = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocysteinemia may play a role as a risk factor in the development or progression of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and high-tension glaucoma.
Fasting ; Folic Acid* ; Glaucoma* ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin B 12* ; Vitamin B 6*

Purified hemoglobin was modified with pyridoxal 5-phosphate(PLP) and polymerized with glutaric dialdehyde(GDA) to get the products. By comparison of the physical, chemical and biological properties of different procedures for modification before and after polymerization, there is no significant difference in molecular distribution, methemoglobin(MetHb) concentration, oxygen carrier capacity, P50 and spectra. Furthermore, the procedure of modification after polymerization can save PLP greatly and decrease cost greatly. So the procedure of modification after polymerization is a better way in research and production. The addition of GDA could control the increasing of MetHb. By comparison on the physical, chemical and biological properties of different procedures, there is no significant difference in molecular distribution, MetHb concentration, oxygen carrier capacity and spectra between the procedure of adding GDA before PLP and that after PLP. But the P50 of adding GDA before PLP is much lower than that after PLP. So the procedure of adding GDA after PLP is a better way.
Blood Substitutes ; Chemical Phenomena ; Glutaral ; chemistry ; Hemoglobins ; chemistry ; Humans ; Methemoglobin ; chemistry ; Pyridoxal Phosphate ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry