QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ross, M. L. Articles by Pike, R. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ross, M. L. Articles by Pike, R. L.

The Relationship of Vitamin B₆ to Protein Metabolism during Pregnancy in the Rat¹

Department of Foods and Nutrition, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park

The effects on both the maternal organism and the offspring of depletion of the maternal vitamin B₆ stores prior to mating and of varying levels of pyridoxine in the diet during gestation were investigated.

Average maternal weight gains of over 100 gm were observed in animals not depleted of their vitamin B₆ stores prior to mating and maintained during the gestation period on diets containing pyridoxine. Depletion of maternal vitamin B₆ stores prior to mating exerted a marked effect on weight gain. The smallest weight gains occurred in the group receiving desoxypyridoxine and increased linearly as the level of pyridoxine was increased.

Prior depletion had no effect on food intake. Food consumption was highest for the animals receiving pyridoxine, lower on the pyridoxine-free diet and reduced further on the desoxypyridoxine supplement.

The percentages of dietary nitrogen retained were lower for all animals in the depleted group than for those on corresponding diets in the non-depleted group. Nitrogen retention was significantly lower on the desoxypyridoxine-supplemented diet in each group but the level of pyridoxine in the ration had no significant effect on nitrogen retention within the two main groups.

The data on maternal livers showed that there is a definite influence of vitamin B₆ on liver protein synthesis during pregnancy. It is postulated that this effect may be due to the influence of vitamin B₆-dependent enzyme systems or to hormonal changes.

Average fetal weights differed with the state of maternal vitamin B₆ stores prior to mating and with the level of pyridoxine in the ration during gestation. The young from nondepleted mothers were heavier than those from depleted mothers on corresponding diets. It is significant that the average weight of the young from depleted mothers maintained during gestation on pyridoxine-supplemented diets were as low as or lower than those from non-depleted animals maintained on the desoxypyridoxine-supplemented diet during gestation.

The data indicate that pyridoxine in the diet before mating is as important as pyridoxine in the diet during gestation; giving further support to the hypothesis that the condition of the maternal organism prior to the inception of pregnancy plays a critical role in the course of pregnancy and its outcome.

² Taken in part from a dissertation submitted to the Graduate School of The Pennsylvania State University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

³ Mary Swartz Rose fellow, 1953–54; present address: Division of Home Economics, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa.

Manuscript received 12 August 1955.