The excretion of oxalic acid following deoxypyridoxine and tryptophan administration in mongoloid and nonmongoloid subjects

Abstract

Mongoloid and nonmongoloid children were studied to compare the excretion of oxalic and xanthurenic acid following the administration of deoxypyridoxine and tryptophan. The studies show that the mongoloid child excretes much larger amounts of oxalic acid as well as xanthurenic acid than the nonmongoloid control subjects. This is further evidence for the more rapid depletion of vitamin B₆ stores to occur in mongoloid children than in nonmongoloid controls. The use and rationale of oxalic acid excretion as a parameter of vitamin B₆ depletion is presented. The excretion of oxalic acid is not as sensitive an indicator as xanthurenic acid in detecting vitamin B₆ deficiency.