Marginal vitamin B-6 deficiency decreases plasma (n-3) and (n-6) PUFA concentrations in healthy men and women

J Nutr. 2012 Oct;142(10):1791-7. doi: 10.3945/jn.112.163246. Epub 2012 Sep 5.

Abstract

Previous animal studies showed that severe vitamin B-6 deficiency altered fatty acid profiles of tissue lipids, often with an increase of linoleic acid and a decrease of arachidonic acid. However, little is known about the extent to which vitamin B-6 deficiency affects human fatty acid profiles. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of marginal vitamin B-6 deficiency on fatty acid profiles in plasma, erythrocytes, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy adults fed a 28-d, low-vitamin B-6 diet. Healthy participants (n = 23) received a 2-d, controlled, vitamin B-6-adequate diet followed by a 28-d, vitamin B-6-restricted diet to induce a marginal deficiency. Plasma HDL and LDL cholesterol concentrations, FFA concentrations, and erythrocyte and PBMC membrane fatty acid compositions did not significantly change from baseline after the 28-d restriction. Plasma total arachidonic acid, EPA, and DHA concentrations decreased from (mean ± SD) 548 ± 96 to 490 ± 94 μmol/L, 37 ± 13 to 32 ± 13 μmol/L, and 121 ± 28 to 109 ± 28 μmol/L [positive false discovery rate (pFDR) adjusted P < 0.05], respectively. The total (n-6):(n-3) PUFA ratio in plasma exhibited a minor increase from 15.4 ± 2.8 to 16.6 ± 3.1 (pFDR adjusted P < 0.05). These data indicate that short-term vitamin B-6 restriction decreases plasma (n-3) and (n-6) PUFA concentrations and tends to increase the plasma (n-6):(n-3) PUFA ratio. Such changes in blood lipids may be associated with the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in vitamin B-6 insufficiency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arachidonic Acid / blood*
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Diet
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / blood*
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / blood*
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / chemistry
  • Erythrocytes / chemistry
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / chemistry
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects
  • Male
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vitamin B 6 / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin B 6 Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin B 6 Deficiency / physiopathology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Arachidonic Acid
  • Vitamin B 6
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid