title: Dietary intake of vitamin B6 and concentration of vitamin B6 in blood samples of German vegans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to evaluate the dietary vitamin B6 intake and determine the vitamin B6 concentration in blood samples of German vegans.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science, University of Hannover, Wunstorfer Strasse 14, D-30453 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waldmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dörr
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Koschizke
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leitzmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001682:Biological Availability; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D026681:Vitamin B 6 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases