title: Vitamin B-6 metabolism in premature infants.
abstract: The response of premature infants to intravenous pyridoxine or pyridoxal was studied by measuring serum and erythrocyte pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP). In the first study serum PLP was measured in 28 infants periodically through day 28. Infants less than 30 wk gestational age (GA) had no serum PLP response to the administration of pyridoxine. Infants greater than or equal to 30 wk GA had significantly greater concentrations of PLP by day 3. In the second study there was a negligible response of serum PLP in nine infants less than or equal to 28 wk GA to supplementation of pyridoxine or pyridoxal. However, erythrocyte PLP and whole-blood total vitamin B-6 concentrations increased in both groups, indicating the presence of a substantial amount of the vitamin in the circulation of the infants. Whereas the functional significance of these observations is not known, it appears that in premature infants, serum PLP may not be an appropriate indicator of vitamin B-6 status.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Raiten
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Andon
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D011730:Pyridoxal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000097:blood; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011730:Pyridoxal; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; D011736:Pyridoxine