Dietary intake of vitamin B6 and concentration of vitamin B6 in blood samples of German vegans

• Published in: Public health nutrition Vol. 9; no. 6; pp. 779 - 784
• Main Authors: Waldmann, A, Dörr, B, Koschizke, JW, Leitzmann, C, Hahn, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.09.2006
• Subjects: Adult; Aspartate Aminotransferases - metabolism; Bioavailability; Biological Availability; Blood; blood chemistry; blood sampling; Body mass index; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dairy products; Diet; Diet, Vegetarian; Dietary intake; EAST-AC; enzyme activity; erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase activity coefficient; Erythrocytes - enzymology; Female; Food; food frequency questionnaires; Germany; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; nutrient availability; nutrient intake; Nutrition Assessment; Nutrition research; Nutritional Status; plant-based foods; pyridoxine; Surveys and Questionnaires; vegan diet; Veganism; vegetarian diet; Vegetarianism; Vitamin B 6 - administration & dosage; Vitamin B 6 - blood; Vitamin B 6 Deficiency - blood; Vitamin B 6 Deficiency - epidemiology; Vitamin B 6 Deficiency - prevention & control; Vitamin B Complex - administration & dosage; Vitamin B Complex - blood; Vitamin B6; women; Germany; Dietary intake; EAST-AC; Veganism; Vitamin B6
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1079/PHN2005895

The study aimed to evaluate the dietary vitamin B6 intake and determine the vitamin B6 concentration in blood samples of German vegans. Cross-sectional study with 33 examination sites all over Germany. Subjects Ninety-three vegans (50 females) with a mean (+/- standard deviation (SD)) age of 43.7 +/- 15.7 years who took no vitamin supplements. Dietary intake was assed using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase activity coefficient (EAST-AC) was calculated as the ratio of stimulated (pyridoxal 5'-phosphate added) to unstimulated activity in blood samples that were provided after an overnight fast. Mean +/- SD vitamin B6 intake was 2.83 +/- 0.98 mg day(-1) and mean +/- SD protein intake was 56.6 +/- 21.7 g day(-1). Of the participants 4% showed vitamin B6 intakes lower than daily recommended intakes for Germany, 16% showed EAST-AC > 1.85, and a further 58% showed EAST-AC of 1.5-1-85. Moderate vegans were affected to a lesser extent than strict vegans. None of the established confounders was a significant predictor of EAST-AC. In logistic regression analyses the contribution of nutriments and cereals to pyridoxine intake was the only predictor of EAST-AC classified as < or = 1.85 and > 1.85, respectively. In spite of the high total intake of vitamin B6, an adequate concentration in blood samples could not be realised for a majority of the participants. Due to the health implications of a marginal pyridoxine status, vegans should be encouraged to include foods with a high bioavailability of pyridoxine, such as beans, lentils and bananas, in the daily diet.