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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

A Waldmann ,
B Dörr ,
JW Koschizke ,
C Leitzmann  and
A Hahn
A Waldmann
Affiliation:
Institute of Food Science, University of Hannover, Wunstorfer Strasse 14, D-30453 Hannover, Germany
B Dörr
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutritional Science, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
JW Koschizke
Affiliation:
Institute of Food Science, University of Hannover, Wunstorfer Strasse 14, D-30453 Hannover, Germany
C Leitzmann
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutritional Science, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
A Hahn*
Affiliation:
Institute of Food Science, University of Hannover, Wunstorfer Strasse 14, D-30453 Hannover, Germany
*
*Corresponding author: Email Andreas.Hahn@lw.uni-hannover.de
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Abstract

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Objective

The study aimed to evaluate the dietary vitamin B6 intake and determine the vitamin B6 concentration in blood samples of German vegans.

Design and setting

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 < 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.

Keywords

VeganismVitamin B6EAST-ACDietary intake
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 9 , Issue 6 , September 2006 , pp. 779 - 784
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2006

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