Effects of different levels of pyridoxine fed during pregnancy superimposed upon growth in the rat
Kirksey, A.; Pang, R.L.; Lin, W.J.
Journal of Nutrition 105(5): 607-615
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 1127471 Document Number: 87331
Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed from weaning on a basal diet with pyridoxine hydrochloride 1.2, 2.4, 4.8, 9.6 or 19.2 mg/kg diet. Some animals from each dietary group were mated at 55 (P-55) and 115 (P-115) days of age; others of the same age acted as nonpregnant controls. Estimations were made on day 21 of gestation. With the exception of the 1.2-mg diet group, maternal weight gains during gestation were greater for P-55 groups than for P-155 groups, possibly reflecting maternal growth. Both maternal weight gains and foetal weights were less for the 1.2-mg P-55 group; otherwise reproductive performance was similar among the groups. Judged by stimulation of erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase activity by pyridoxal phosphate added in vitro, the requirements of all pregnant and nonpregnant groups were met by 2.4 mg pyridoxine/kg diet, but on the basis of vitamin B-6 saturation of tissues, pyridoxine requirements were 9.6 mg/kg diet for young growing animals and 4.8 mg/kg diet for older animals in which growth had almost ceased. The requirements for both young and older pregnant animals possibly exceeded 19.2 mg pyridoxine/kg diet for vitamin B-6 saturation of maternal liver, foetus and foetal brain.