Vitamin B6 is found in both plants and animals, with rich sources including legumes, nuts, meat, and vegetables. It plays a crucial role in various biochemical functions, including amino acid metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis, with a recommended daily allowance of 2mg for adults. Deficiency is rare but can be influenced by certain medications, while treatment for deficiency involves high doses, and toxicity can lead to sensory neuropathy.

1. Vitamin B6 deficiency
Rithikha Sri 114
Rohankumar 115

3. Source:
• Plants contain Vitamin B6 in pyridoxine form.
• Animals contain in form of PLP and Pyridoxamine
phosphate.
• Rich sources are:
Legumes
Nuts
Wheat bran
Meat, Fish
Fruits and Vegetables.

4. RDA(recommended daily
allowance):
• Adult: 2mg/day
• Children: 0.5 - 1 mg/day.

5. Biochemical functions:
PLP is the co-factor for more than 100 enzymes involved in
metabolism of amino acids.
Nutrient metabolism: Gluconeogenesis, Glycogenolysis
Carbohydrate, Homocysteine, lipid
Metabolism.
Hemoglobin synthesis: Synthesis of porphyrin
Neurological Functioning: Neurotransmitter synthesis
Immune function: Interleukin - 2 production.

6. • Vitamin B6 :
Absorption occurs in small
Intestine(jejunum)
⬇️
Metabolized to active form
In Liver
⬇️
Excreted in Urine.

7. Deficiency:
Vitamin B6 deficiency is rare but can be influenced
by certain drugs like isoniazid
penicillamine,cycloserine and L-dopa.
They can act as chemical antagonist to pyridoxine.

8. Clinical features:

9. Laboratory diagnosis:
Through Serum pyridoxal phosphate.
Low Plasma PLP value: <20nmol/L.

10. Treatment:
• 50 mg/day is given for deficiency
• For deficiency related medication
Use : higher dose of 100 - 200 mg/day given.
Toxicity:
safe upper limit: 100mg/day.
If toxicity occurs, It may cause
Sensory neuropathy
Photosensitivity
Dermatitis in some cases.

11. Reference:
1. Davidson essentials of medicine.
2. Harrison principle of internal medicine.

12. Thank you!