Lack of effect of vitamin B-6 supplementation on the lipoprotein profile of post-menopausal chronic hemodialysis patients.

This study was designed to analyze the effect of vitamin B-6 supplementation on the lipoprotein profile of chronic hemodialysis patients. Individuals on chronic hemodialysis experience an acceleration of atherosclerosis, which is often accompanied by abnormal lipid metabolism. Although total plasma cholesterol is usually normal, high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is often low. Recently, it has been suggested that the development of atherosclerotic lesions in chronic hemodialysis patients may be the result of a decreased plasma concentration of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) and concomitant alterations in plasma amino acid and/or lipoprotein profiles. All subjects in this study were supplemented with 0.97 mmol (200 mg) pyridoxine hydrochloride per day for 28 days; then, concentrations of PLP, total cholesterol, and lipoprotein cholesterol fractions were determined in the plasma. No significant difference was noted in PLP concentration between Group 1 (five post-menopausal women with a history of atherosclerosis who were undergoing maintenance hemodialysis therapy) and Group 2 (six subjects who were non-symptomatic). However, both groups had significant increases in PLP concentrations between the pre- and post-supplementation periods (p less than .01). In contrast, there was a statistically significant difference in total plasma cholesterol and very-low-density- and low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL and LDL) cholesterol concentrations between groups, but no significant changes in total cholesterol or VLDL and LDL cholesterol content were found during vitamin B-6 supplementation. No statistically significant differences in HDL, HDL2, and HDL3 cholesterol concentrations were observed between Group 1 and Group 2 subjects or within either group during vitamin B-6 supplementation.