Assessment of Vitamin B 6 Nutriture in Pregnancy in the Rat. ∗

Summary

The response of several parameters of vit B₆ nutriture (erythrocyte GPT and GOT, hepatic GPT and GOT, and xanthurenic acid excretion following a tryptophan load) to dosages of vit B₆ ranging from 15 to 400 μg pyridoxine. HCl daily has been determined in pregnant and nonpregnant rats. All parameters except erythrocyte GPT appeared to be markedly affected by the state of pregnancy per se. Erythrocyte GPT was the most sensitive to the wide range of vit B₆ doses employed. Erythrocyte GPT appears to be well suited for use as a parameter for the study of vit B₆ requirements in pregnancy.