Vitamin B6 status of the hospitalized aged

Nutritional status of vitamin B6 was investigated in two groups of 102 hospitalized aged. Vitamin B6 intake was estimated. Erythrocyte glutamic-pyruvic transaminase stimulation in vitro with pyridoxal phosphate and SGOT were studied as the biochemical criteria of vitamin B6 status: 18.6% of the subjects consumed less than 0.66 mg of vitamin B6 per day; 28.4% showed a percentage stimulation in vitro with pyridoxal phosphate of more than 15%. There was no significant correlation between basal erythrocyte glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activity and dietary protein, dietary vitamin B6 dietary vitamin B6/100 g of protein, SGOT, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and iron. All the biochemical parameters used for evaluating vitamin B6 status appeared higher in females, but no statistical difference between male and female groups was noted. Only SGOT levels of female subjects reflected their vitamin B6 status. A large individual variation of vitamin B6 requirement was indicated in both groups studied. Supplements with 2.5 mg of vitamin B6 to deficient subjects caused an increase in transaminase levels, though females showed a higher response. A higher recommended allowance of vitamin B6 for the aged male and female subjects was considered desirable.