Vitamin B-6 Intakes and Plasma B-6 Vitamer Concentrations of Men and Women, 19–50 Years of Age

Abstract

The vitamin B-6 intakes and plasma B-6 vitamer levels of healthy nonsupplemented men and women, 19–24 and 25–50 years, were compared. The subjects did not take nutrient supplements or medications or use tobacco products. Subjects were grouped as follows: eight, 19–24 y men; nine, 25–50 y men; 11, 19–24 y women; and 13, 25–50 y women. The estimated vitamin B-6 intakes, obtained via 24-h recalls followed by 2-d food records, of the two groups of men were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of the two groups of women. Thirty-five percent of the women reported consuming less than the Estimated Average Requirement for vitamin B-6. The four gender: age groups had similar B-6 vitamer concentrations of plasma pyridoxal-5’-phosphate, 4-pyridoxic acid, pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, and pyridoxamine-5’-phosphate. Males 25–50 y had significantly higher (P < 0.05) plasma pyridoxal concentrations than the two groups of females. All subjects had pyridoxal-5’-phosphate concentrations indicative of vitamin B-6 adequacy. Generally the plasma B-6 vitamer concentrations of these men and women, 19–24 and 25–50 years of age, all having adequate vitamin B-6 status, were similar.