Failure of pyridoxine to improve glucose tolerance in diabetics

A study was undertaken to test the effect of pyridoxine supplementation on glucose tolerance in diabetes mellitus. Thirteen adult maturity-onset diabetics were studied. Seven were vitamin B6 deficient, as assessed by the stimulation of erythrocyte glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in vitro by pyridoxal phosphate. All patients received pyridoxine hydrochloride (40 mg twice daily) for 3 weeks. Pyridoxine supplmentation did not bring about any significant alterations in either the oral glucose tolerance or the insulin response to glucose.