Vitamin B-6 metabolism is altered in chronic renal failure rats

Abstract

Effect of chronic renal failure on plasma pyridoxal phosphate and total vitamin B-6 concentrations and the activation coefficients of erythrocyte aminotransferases in rats were studied. The uremia was induced by two-stage five–sixths nephrectomy. Urine and blood samples were collected eight weeks after the surgery. Serum urea levels were significantly greater in uremic animals. Creatinine clearance of uremic group was 30% of the control value. Food intake of the control and uremic groups did not significantly differ. The levels of plasma pyridoxal phosphate of the uremic group were 43% lower than those of the control group, but the concentrations of plasma total vitamin B-6 were not significantly different between the control and uremic groups. No differences were observed in activation coefficients of erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase between the control and uremic groups. Results of this study indicated that vitamin B-6 metabolism was altered in chronic renal failure animals. More than one biochemical index for assessing vitamin B-6 status should be employed in chronic renal failure. The serum alkaline phosphatase activity was comparable between the control and uremic groups, indicating that serum alkaline phosphatase was not involved in lowering plasma PLP of chronic renal failure animals.