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Published on: July 3, 2013
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) toxicity: enhancement by uremia in rats
1Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA. levines@nki.rfmh.org
Abstract:
Pyridoxine is not completely innocuous. Large doses can cause a peripheral neuropathy despite renal excretion of this water-soluble vitamin. Renal failure patients are treated with pyridoxine to prevent a deficiency. The safety of pyridoxine treatment in the presence of renal dysfunction has not been studied. Our experiments on anephric rats show that the uremic state, in a mere 3 or 4 days, causes a 5- to 10-fold increase in susceptibility to pyridoxine-induced neuronopathy. These results suggest a need for caution in prescribing pyridoxine to uremic patients who will probably take the vitamin daily for many years.
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