Related Experiment Videos
Zinc status in vitamin B6 deficiency
D Pillay1, P Gathiram, J B Ubbink
1Department of Human Physiology and Physiological Chemistry, University of Durban-Westville, Durban, South Africa.
Summary
Vitamin B6 deficiency in rats significantly lowers plasma zinc levels. Reduced erythrocyte zinc-metallothionein-1 in deficient rats is linked to decreased food intake, not vitamin B6 status alone.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nutritional Science
- Toxicology
Background:
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) is essential for numerous metabolic processes.
- Zinc is a critical trace element involved in various enzymatic functions and cellular processes.
- Understanding the interplay between vitamin B6 and zinc status is important for nutritional health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of vitamin B6 deficiency on zinc status in young male Wistar rats.
- To assess the roles of plasma zinc and erythrocyte zinc-metallothionein-1 (Zn-Mt-1) as indicators of zinc status under vitamin B6 deficiency.
- To differentiate the effects of vitamin B6 deficiency from reduced food intake on zinc metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Three groups of Wistar rats were used: control (7 mg pyridoxine/kg diet), pair-fed (7 mg pyridoxine/kg diet), and deficient (0 mg pyridoxine/kg diet).
- Diets were administered for six weeks.
- Zinc status was evaluated by measuring plasma zinc concentrations and erythrocyte Zn-Mt-1 levels.
Main Results:
- Plasma zinc levels were significantly lower in the vitamin B6 deficient group (1.35 µg/ml) compared to control (1.99 µg/ml) and pair-fed (2.03 µg/ml) groups (p < 0.001).
- Erythrocyte Zn-Mt-1 levels were significantly lower in vitamin B6 deficient rats versus control rats.
- No significant difference in erythrocyte Zn-Mt-1 was found between vitamin B6 deficient and pair-fed groups, indicating reduced food intake as the primary cause for lower Zn-Mt-1.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin B6 deficiency significantly impairs plasma zinc levels in rats.
- Reduced erythrocyte Zn-Mt-1 in vitamin B6 deficient rats is primarily attributed to decreased food consumption rather than a direct effect of vitamin B6 deficiency.
- Plasma zinc levels appear to be a more sensitive indicator of vitamin B6 deficiency-induced changes in zinc status than erythrocyte Zn-Mt-1 in this model.