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High Pyridoxine Diet in the Rat: Possible Implications for Megavitamin Therapy¹

Department of Pediatric Research, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Mental Retardation, Staten Island, N. Y. 10314, and Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Genetics Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, New York 10029

Large amounts of pyridoxine in the diet had no effect on appetite but resulted in a 20% increase in body weight and 40% in liver weight compared to pair-fed controls. The percentage of protein in liver was unchanged despite the increased liver weight, and the percentage of lipid was decreased. The weights of brain, pancreas and kidney were unaffected. There appeared to be an increase in peritoneal fat; however, the epididymal fat pads were significantly smaller in the high pyridoxine group because of smaller cell size rather than decreased cell number. Concentrations of free amino acids were unchanged as were the activities of cystathionine synthase and cystathionase. Incorporation of ³⁵S from both methionine and cystine into the proteins of various organs was also unchanged. In the rats on high pyridoxine diets there was greater incorporation of ³⁵S from cystine into reduced glutathione and less into oxidized glutathione. Since the amount of pyridoxine consumed by the experimental group was of the order of magnitude as that currently used in the treatment of homocystinuria, further studies are needed before it can be assumed that massive doses of water-soluble vitamins can be used with impunity.

KEY WORDS: • pyridoxine • megavitamin therapy

¹ Presented in part at the Society for Pediatric Research, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1971.

² Dr. Knittle is a Career Scientist, Health Research Council, New York City Contract #1-573.

Manuscript received 4 August 1972.