Url: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TB1-43DDNXC-4&_user=9367714&_coverDate=07%2F31%2F2001&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_rerunOrigin=scho lar.google&_acct=C000070526&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=9367714&md5=ec5842d1b926c3f187302902b84c41d3
Plasma homocysteine concentrations of Indonesian children with inadequate
and adequate vitamin B-6 status
David W. Girauda, Judy A. Driskell, , a and Budi Setiawanb
a
Department of Nutritional Science and Dietetics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806, USA; b
Jurusan Gizi Masyarakat dan Sumberdaya Keluarga, Institut Pertanian, Bogor, Indonesia
Received 31 October 2000; revised 26 February 2001; accepted 3 March 2001; Available online 2 July 2001.
Abstract
The objective of the study was to determine the usefulness of utilizing plasma homocysteine concentrations as an indicator of vitamin B-6 status in subjects with inadequate and adequate status as demonstrated by currently accepted indicators. Plasma homocysteine concentrations of 77 third-grade Indonesian children (aged 8–9 y; boys and girls) were measured. About a quarter of these subjects had inadequate vitamin B-6 status as indicated by their plasma pyridoxal-5′-phosphate concentrations, erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase activity coefficients, and reported dietary vitamin B-6 intakes. No significant differences in plasma homocysteine concentrations were observed between subject groups shown to have inadequate and adequate vitamin B-6 status using currently accepted indicators. Plasma homocysteine concentrations of the subjects were not correlated with values for other vitamin B-6 indices. Plasma homocysteine concentration was not an indicator of vitamin B-6 status in these children, as it did not differentiate between children shown otherwise to have inadequate and adequate status of the vitamin.
