Possible Interaction: Homocysteine and Vitamin B 6

“After vitamin B6 treatment, Hcy serum levels significantly decreased (14.2 ± 3.4 vs. 11.8 ± 2.0 &mgr;mol/L, respectively, t = 2.679, P = 0.023); this decrease being statistically significant in men but not in women.”

“These findings may be consistent with the hypothesis that the vitamin B6 status may influence plasma Hcy levels.”

“The mean change from baseline in homocysteine concentration by both treatments compared with placebo (ET, -13%; EPT, -10%) was accompanied by a decrease in the concentration of vitamin B6 (ET, -25%; EPT, -38%) and albumin (ET, -7%; EPT, -11%).”

“An initial 6-week period of vitamin supplementation (1.0 mg folic acid, 10 mg pyridoxine , 0.05 mg cyanocobalamin) reduced plasma homocysteine levels 54.7% (P<0.001).”

“Although tHcy can be lowered effectively with small doses of folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 , it is not known whether lowering tHcy, by means of multivitamin therapy, can prevent stroke and other major atherothromboembolic vascular events.”

“Means to reduce elevated homocysteine concentrations is supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B6 , and vitamin B12.”

“ Vitamin B6 in beer seems to prevent the alcohol-induced rise in serum homocysteine.”

“In both groups, supplementation with high doses of folic acid and pyridoxine reduced the plasma Hcy concentration.”

“Moreover, high-dose supplementation with folic acid and pyridoxine significantly reduced Hcy levels, but did not restore the sAA and sulfhydryl abnormalities to normal levels.”

“Folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12 supplementation can significantly decrease circulating Hcy concentrations but their effects on CVD risk reduction are conflicting.”

“Treatment with folic acid and piridoxine can lower the high level of homocysteine and should be associated with a clinical benefit.”

“ Homocysteine spontaneously reacts with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate giving a complex which absorbs at 325 nm.”

“In addition …, homocysteine … pyridoxal 5′-phosphate-dependent enzymes studied, which included liver tyrosine transaminase ( l -tyrosine: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.5), and alanine transaminase ( l -…-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.2), and brain glutamate decarboxylase ( l -glutamate 1 carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.15).”

“These results in vitro and in vivo lead to the conclusion that homocysteine can act as an antimetabolite of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate.”