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[Activity studies of an iron-vitamin B6 preparation for euteral treatment of iron deficiency anemia]
Insights
Iron therapy for anemia in children can deplete vitamin B6. Supplementing with vitamin B6 improves vitamin B6 status and accelerates red blood cell synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Anemia Research
Context:
- Iron deficiency anemia is common in children.
- Heme synthesis requires both iron and vitamin B6.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated the interplay between iron therapy and vitamin B6 status.
Purpose:
- To investigate the impact of iron therapy on vitamin B6 status in anemic children.
- To evaluate the effect of combined iron and vitamin B6 therapy versus iron therapy alone.
- To assess the biochemical markers of vitamin B6 nutriture during and after treatment.
Summary:
- Children with iron deficiency anemia received either iron therapy alone or combined iron-vitamin B6 therapy.
- Iron therapy alone led to a decrease in vitamin B6 status due to increased demand for pyridoxal phosphate in heme synthesis.
- Combined therapy maintained normal vitamin B6 status and accelerated heme synthesis compared to iron alone.
Impact:
- Highlights the potential for iron therapy to induce vitamin B6 deficiency.
- Demonstrates the benefits of vitamin B6 supplementation in improving therapeutic outcomes for anemic children.
- Provides evidence for optimizing treatment protocols for pediatric iron deficiency anemia.
Abstract:
In 17 respectively 15 children with iron deficiency anemia the effect of a combined orally applicated iron-vitamin B6 therapy and iron therapy only was studied. Pyridoxal phosphate, activities of pyridoxal kinase and red cell GOT, and excretion of 4-pyridoxic acid in urine were measured as indices of vitamin B6 nutriture before therapy was started, on the 3rd and 6th day with therapy and on the 1st and 4th day after therapy was stopped. Red cells, concentration of hemoglobin, reticulocytes and hematokrit were simultaneously counted, whereas serum iron had been measured once only before therapy. A group of 22 hematologically healthy children was studied as controls. After iron therapy a decrease of vitamin B6 nutriture occured as a consequence of an increased requirement for pyridoxal phosphate for heme synthesis. Additional vitamin B6 was followed by a normal vitamin B6 nutriture and a significantly accelerating effect on heme synthesis.