Vitamin B6 and vitamin C status in elderly patients with infections during hospitalization

We have evaluated whether vitamin B6 and C metabolism may be altered by infection in the elderly. Vitamin B6 and C biochemical status has been assessed for times over a period of 21 days (days 0, 7, 14, and 21) in 18 subjects greater than or equal to 75 years. The subjects were divided into 3 groups...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of nutrition and metabolism 1997-01, Vol.41 (6), p.344-352
Main Authors: Pfitzenmeyer, P, Guilland, J.C, d'Athis, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acute course
acute phase proteins
Acute-Phase Proteins - metabolism
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
ascorbic acid
Ascorbic Acid - metabolism
aspartate transaminase
Biological and medical sciences
blood plasma
Cross Infection - metabolism
duration
elderly
erythrocytes
Female
hospitals
Humans
infection
Male
malnutrition
Medical sciences
Metabolic diseases
Nutrition Disorders - metabolism
Nutrition Disorders - physiopathology
nutritional status
Original Paper
Other nutritional diseases (malnutrition, nutritional and vitamin deficiencies...)
patients
pyridoxal phosphate
pyridoxine
Pyridoxine - metabolism
Time Factors
vitamin deficiencies
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Summary:We have evaluated whether vitamin B6 and C metabolism may be altered by infection in the elderly. Vitamin B6 and C biochemical status has been assessed for times over a period of 21 days (days 0, 7, 14, and 21) in 18 subjects greater than or equal to 75 years. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: group I(8 subjects with acute infection), group II (4 malnourished subjects), and group III(6 control subjects). Vitamin B6 status was determined by plasma pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) and erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase activation coefficient (alpha-EAST), and vitamin C status by plasma ascorbic acid. During the 3 weeks, vitamins B6 and C values were significantly different between groups: at days 7 and 14, PLP values were significantly higher in group III than in both groups I and II, and alpha-EAST values were significantly higher in group I than in both groups II and III. Plasma ascorbate values were significantly lower in group I than in both groups II and III. These data suggest that an acute catabolic state like infection may influence vitamin B6 and C metabolism. Nevertheless, more work is needed to assert that vitamin B6 and C supplementation may be useful during infection.
ISSN:0250-6807
1421-9697
DOI:10.1159/000178005