Antagonism of acrylamide neurotoxicity by supplementation with vitamin B6

The effect of vitamin B6 supplementation on acrylamide induced neurotoxicity was examined in rats chronically dosed for 3 weeks. Using the inclined screen test, the onset of neurotoxicity developed on day 12 in all rats given 30 mg/kg acrylamide per day on day 16 in the rats supplemented with 5 mg/day of vitamin B6. On day 21 all animals given only acrylamide were severely affected compared to only 4 of 7 rats receiving acrylamide + vitamin B6. Another behavioral index, the foot spread test, did not detect any alteration in the development of acrylamide toxicity by vitamin B6. Weight loss was seen in both acrylamide treated groups and was not altered by vitamin B6 supplementation. The data show that vitamin B6 supplementation can delay the onset and reduce the severity of the neurotoxicity caused by chronic acrylamide administration to rats and suggest that acrylamide toxicity may be caused by an interaction of acrylamide with enzymes involved in supplying energy to the neuron. Vitamin B6 supplementation may be able to increase the amount of energy available to the neuron via alternate metabolic pathways.