Revised D-A-CH Reference Values for the Intake of Vitamin B₆

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The Nutrition Societies of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as the joint editors of the “D-A-CH reference values for nutrient intake” have revised the reference values for vitamin B<sub>6</sub> in summer 2019. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> For women, the average requirement (AR) for vitamin B<sub>6</sub> intake was derived on the basis of balance studies using a pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP) plasma concentration of ≥30 nmol/L as a biomarker of an adequate vitamin B<sub>6</sub> status. The recommended intake (RI) was derived considering a coefficient of variation of 10%. The RIs of vitamin B<sub>6</sub> for men, children, and adolescents were extrapolated from the vitamin B<sub>6</sub> requirement for women considering differences in body weight, an allometric exponent, growth factors as appropriate, and a coefficient of variation. For infants aged 0 to under 4 months, an estimated value was set based on the vitamin B<sub>6</sub> intake via breast feeding. The reference value for infants aged 4 to under 12 months was extrapolated from the estimated value for infants under 4 months of age and the average vitamin B<sub>6</sub> requirement for adults. The reference values for pregnant and lactating women consider the requirements for the foetus and the loss via breast milk. <b><i>Key Messages:</i></b> According to the combined analysis of 5 balance studies, the AR for vitamin B<sub>6</sub> to ensure a plasma PLP concentration of ≥30 nmol/L is 1.2 mg/day for adult females and the extrapolated AR for adult males is 1.3 mg/day. The corresponding RIs of vitamin B<sub>6</sub> are 1.4 mg/day for adult females and 1.6 mg/day for adult males, independent of age. For infants, the estimated value is 0.1 mg/day and 0.3 mg/day, depending on age. The AR of vitamin B<sub>6</sub> for children and adolescents ranges between 0.5 and 1.5 mg/day, and the RI is between 0.6 mg/day and 1.6 mg/day. During pregnancy, the AR is 1.3 mg/day in the first trimester and 1.5 mg/day in the second and third trimesters; the RI is 1.5 mg/day in the first trimester and 1.8 mg/day in the second and third trimesters. For lactating women, the AR is 1.3 mg/day and the RI is 1.6 mg/day.

Assessment of vitamin B6 status in never-pregnant, pregnant and postpartum women and their infants

“…Recent recommendations from the Nutrition Societies of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland set an Average Requirement (AR) for vitamin B6 of 1.2 mg/day for adult females, 1.3 mg/day for pregnant women in the first trimester and 1.5 mg/day in the second and third trimesters, and 1.3 mg/day for lactating women, to ensure a plasma PLP concentration of ≥ 30 nmol/L [ 27 ].…”

“…The estimated mean intake of vitamin B6 based on self-reported questionnaires from more than 17,000 pregnant women in the MoBa study was 4.6 (SD 11.0) mg of which 3.3 (SD 11.0) mg came from supplements. Recent recommendations from the Nutrition Societies of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland set an Average Requirement (AR) for vitamin B6 of 1.2 mg/day for adult females, 1.3 mg/day for pregnant women in the first trimester and 1.5 mg/day in the second and third trimesters, and 1.3 mg/day for lactating women, to ensure a plasma PLP concentration of ≥ 30 nmol/L [27].…”

Analysis of the Impact of Selected Vitamins Deficiencies on the Risk of Disability in Older People

“…Grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, potatoes, some herbs and spices, meat and meat products [79] Deficiency < 30 nmol/L (serum PLP) [79] 1.2-1.5 mg/day for women and1.3-1.8 mg/day for men [79][80][81] 1.2-2.2 mg/day for women and 1.4-2.2 mg/day for men [79,80] Low/inadequate dietary intake, undernutrition, alcoholism, pyridoxine-inactivating drugs, liver disease, dialysis, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, increased requirements with age [72] 0.5% to 5% of adults [79,82,83] 41.6% of older woman [84]; 16% to 48% of community-dwelling older people [79,82,[85][86][87]; 75% of institutionalized older people [85] * Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) levels PLP = pyridoxal-phosphate. RDA: Recommended dietary allowance.…”

Vitamins as Possible Cancer Biomarkers: Significance and Limitations

“…It should be considered that, for instance, a deficiency in vitamins B 6 /B 12 , can cause DNA damage just like the exposure to radiation or some chemical carcinogens [18]. Table 1 summarizes the RDAs and the recommended blood concentrations for the vitamins [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. There are tantalizing results connecting diet to the risk of cancer.…”