Observations of the concentration of zinc and iron in tissues of vitamin B6-deficient germ-free rats.

Abstract

SummaryThe transition of zinc and iron metabolism in vitamin B6deficiency was investigated using germ-free and conventional rats.In contrast to previous reports, a decrease in zinc content was not observed in the liver, pancreas, kindney, spleen, lung or testes of vitamin B6-deficient conventional and germ-free rats, but we found an increase in zinc content in the kidney of conventional rats and in the liver and spleen of

Effect of Vitamin B₆ and B₁ Deficiencies on the Intestinal Uptake of Calcium, Zinc and Cadmium

“…The percent in crease in the intestinal uptake varied from 44 to 51 % suggesting a non-specific and general increase in the essential and non-essential metal ion uptake. These results can partly explain the earlier observations of Gershoff [7] and Ikeda et al [12], who have demon strated an increase in Zn content of various tissues in B6-deficient rats.…”

“…Vitamin C and D have been well documented to affect the toxicity of Cd [22], Although vitamin B6 has also well-recognized effects on the intes tinal transport of amino acids [9], little is known about its effect on the metal ion transport. More recently, an increased tissue content of Zn and Fe was observed in con ventional and germ-free B6-deficient rats [12] and an enhanced absorption of Fe from the intestine was seen when the daily intake of Fe was greater than the physiolog ical levels [21]. Similarly, in vitamin Br deficient rats, enhanced tissue Zn levels have been reported [7], but the precise role of the intestine in modulating the tissue levels of various essential and non-essential metal ions in these deficient conditions has not been elucidated.…”