Low vitamin B6 status in patients with acute myocardial infarction

The vitamin B6 status of 84 patients with acute myocardial infarction was compared with that of 84 control subjects. Pyridoxal and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) in plasma and erythrocytes, as well as the basal and total potential activity of the PLP-dependent enzyme aspartate aminotransferase in erythrocytes, were measured for a comprehensive assessment of vitamin B6 status. The mean levels of all vitamin B6 indexes (except pyridoxal) were lower in the patients than in the control subjects. The differences were statistically significant, except for erythrocyte PLP and total potential enzyme activity. The adjusted relative odds of a myocardial infarction for subjects in the lowest quartile of plasma PLP was about 5 times higher when compared with those in the highest quartile (relative odds = 5.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.4 to 18.9). Similar findings were found with the other vitamin B6 indexes. No significant association between infarct size, as estimated by creatine kinase level, and the vitamin B6 indexes was observed.