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Vitamin B-6 deficiency and renal function and structure in chronically uremic rats
M Wolfson1, A H Cohen, J D Kopple
1Nephrology Section, Portland VA Medical Center, OR 97207.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|April 1, 1991
Summary
Vitamin B-6 deficiency worsens kidney function in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF). This deficiency reduces glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and increases renal scarring, indicating augmented kidney injury.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Nutritional Science
- Toxicology
Background:
- Preliminary studies indicated worsening renal function in chronic renal failure (CRF) rats fed vitamin B-6-deficient diets.
- Urea clearance, used previously, is an imprecise measure of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and did not elucidate the mechanism of GFR reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To precisely measure renal function in CRF rats.
- To assess if vitamin B-6 deficiency augments renal injury in CRF.
Main Methods:
- Rats with CRF were pair-fed either a pyridoxine-replete or -deficient diet for 3 or 6 weeks.
- [14C]inulin clearance, urine oxalate excretion, and renal histopathology were examined.
Main Results:
- Pyridoxine-deficient rats exhibited significantly lower [14C]inulin clearances after 3 or 6 weeks.
- Increased urine oxalate excretion and augmented renal damage were observed in pyridoxine-deficient rats compared to controls.
- Histological evaluation confirmed increased renal scarring in vitamin B-6 deficient rats.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin B-6 deficiency reduces GFR in rats with CRF.
- Vitamin B-6 deficiency increases renal scarring in rats with CRF.
- These findings highlight the detrimental impact of vitamin B-6 deficiency on kidney function and integrity in the context of chronic renal failure.