Hip fracture patients may be vitamin B6 deficient. Controlled study of serum pyridoxal-5'-phosphate.
Deficiency of vitamin B6 in rats may result in defective bone formation, possibly due to decreased activity of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase which requires pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) as a co-factor and is responsible for production of intracellular putrescine, a metabolic regulator. We studied 3 groups of patients (62 fit ambulant out-patients, 21 elective arthroplasty patients, and 20 hip fracture patients) and assayed their PLP status by high performance liquid chromatography. The reference range derived from the out-patients was 13-106 nmol/L. 3 of the arthroplasty group and 10 of the fracture group had serum PLP concentrations less than 13 nmol/L (P < 0.01). We conclude that PLP may be an etiologic factor in hip fracture by virtue of its role in the activity of a key regulatory protein.
Reynolds
T M
TM
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, UK.
Marshall
P D
PD
Brain
A M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D026681:Vitamin B 6 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate