Tag: pyridoxine

Vitamin B6 Acts Against Colon Cancer

Claus Hancke

June 14, 2005

Alcohol increases the risk of several types of cancer. This may be because alcohol disturbs certain essential metabolic processes. But vitamin B6 and folic acid appear to repair the damage caused by alcohol, thereby restoring those processes.

If you allow yourself 1-2 glasses of red wine a day, you probably prolong life and help yourself against arteriosclerosis. It is a known matter. At the same time, however, it increases the risk of breast cancer and colon cancer. It is also a known matter. Less well-known is that this disadvantage apparently can be eliminated with the B vitamins folic acid and vitamin B6. When alcohol is a cancer risk, it may be because alcohol interferes with the processes that the two vitamins are involved in.

About two years ago, it was discovered that alcohol does not appear to increase the risk of breast cancer in women who get enough folic acid. In 2004, something similar was found for colon cancer in a follow-up of about 500,000 men and women in several countries. In this study, the risk was increased by 30% if more than two alcoholic beverages were consumed daily, but it was not increased in those who got the most folic acid. The same result was found in a Swedish study of ovarian cancer.

Now a new Swedish study shows that the same applies to vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine. 61,433 women whose diets were examined in the years 1987-90 and again in 1997 were followed for an average of 14.8 years. During that period, 805 of the women developed colon cancer. The fifth of participants who got the most vitamin B6 had a one-third lower risk of colon cancer.

However, the protective effect of the vitamin was particularly strong in women who regularly consumed alcohol. If you had at least two alcoholic beverages a week and belonged in the fifth with the highest intake of B6 in your diet, you could enjoy a risk of colon cancer that was only a little over a quarter (28%) as high as if you had been in the fifth of participants with the lowest intake.

Vitamin B6, like folic acid and vitamin B12, plays a role in the so-called 1-carbon metabolism. This means that, among other things, it has the task of forming chemical groups (methyl groups) that contain only one carbon atom and are used in the construction of enzymes, the cells’ genetic material (DNA), etc.

These vitamins supply small parts for the organism’s various construction tasks. Alcohol disrupts this supply, which may be the explanation for why alcohol increases the risk of cancer – or part of the explanation. On the other hand, it seems that enhancing the 1-carbon metabolism with folic acid and vitamin B6 repairs the damage.

Good sources of vitamin B6 are meat, liver, kidney, yeast, whole grains (i.e. not wholemeal bread), nuts and green vegetables. Whole grains used to be a crucial source of vitamin B6, but the dehulling of all grains has meant that humans generally have significantly less vitamin B6 in their blood than, for example, livestock. It is difficult to get the recommended daily 1.7 mg in the diet.

Folic acid is found mainly in liver, green vegetables and yeast. In practice, the most important source is green vegetables. Few people get enough of them. Six a day is the rule.

The authors of the current study, conducted at Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, understandably conclude that their findings may be significant for the prevention of colon cancer, both because many people use alcohol and because the population’s B6 status can be easily improved by, among other things, dietary changes and vitamin supplements.

By: Vitality Council

References:
1. Larsson SC, Giovannucci E, Wolk A. Vitamin B6 intake, alcohol consumption, and colorectal cancer: a longitudinal population-based cohort of women. Gastroenterology. 2005 Jun;128(7):1830-7.
2. Eunyoung Cho et al. Alcohol intake and colorectal cancer: A pooled analysis of 8 cohort studies. Annals of Internal Medicine 2004;140:603-13.

www.gastrojournal.org/scripts/om.dll/serve
www.annals.org
www.iom.dk

Vitamin B6, Research references

Admin

January 1999

1. Annand JC. Pyridoxine and magnesium in the treatment of shock. Lancet ii: 340-1, 1957.
2. Antopol W, Schotland CE. The use of vitamin B6 in pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy. JAMA, March 23, pp. 1058-9, 1940.
3. Barr W, Pyridoxine Supplements in the Premenstrual Syndrome, Practitioner 228: 425-7, 1984.
4. Bassler KH. Megavitamin therapy with pyridoxine. Int J Vit Nutr Res 58: 105-118, 1988.
5. Berman MK, et al. Vitamin B6 in Premenstrual Syndrom, J Am Diet Assoc 90 : 859-61, 1990.
6. Brattström L et al. Impaired homocysteine metabolism in early-onset cerebral and peripheral occlusive arterial disease. Effects of pyridoxine and folic acid treatment. Atherosclerosis 81:1:51-60, 1990.
7. Brattström L, Stavenow L, Galvard H, et al. Pyridoxine reduces cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein and increases antithrombin III activity in 80- year-old men with low plasma pyridoxal 5-phosphate. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 50:8:873-7, 1990.
8. Bum MK et al. Association of Vitamin B6 Status with Parameters of Immune Function in Early HIV-1 Infection. J AIDS 4:122-32, 1991.
9. Caby SK. Vitamin intake and health: A scientific review. New York: Marcel Dekker. p 163- 74, 1991.
10. Cohen M, Bendich A. Safety of pyridoxine – a review of human and animal studies. Toxicol Letters 34: 129-139, 1986.
11. Curhan GC, Willett WC, Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ. A prospective study of the intake of vitamins C and B6, and the risk of kidney stones in men. J Urol 155:61847-51, 1996.
12. Dalery K et al. Homocysteine and coronary artery disease in French Canadian subjects: Relation with vitamins B12, B6, pyridoxal phosphate and folate. Am J Cardiol 75:1107-11, 1995.
13. Driskell JA, Wesley RL, Hess IE. Effectiveness of pyridoxine hydrochloride treatment on carpal tunnel syndrome patients. Nutr Rep Int 1986; 34: 103-1040, 1986.
14. Ellis JM. Vitamin B6 deficiency and rheumatism. Anabolism Winter 1985.
15. Folkers K, Morita M, McRee Jr. J. The activities of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B6 for immune response. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 193:88-92, 1993.
16. Gaby AR. The safe use of vitamin B6 J Nutr Med 1: 153-157, 1990.
17. Gershoff SN, Prien EL. Excretion of urinary metabolites in calcium oxalate urolithiasis: Effect of tryptophan and vitamin B6 administration. Am J Clin Nutr 8:812, 1960.
18. Gershoff S, Prien EL. Effect of daily MgO and vitamin B6 administration to patients with recurring calcium oxalate kidney stones. Am J Clin Nutr 20:393-399, 1967.
19. Gibbs DA, Watts RWE. The action of pyridoxine in primary hyperoxaluria. Clin.Sci 38:277-86, 1970.
20. Gvozdova LG, Paramonova EG, Goriachenkova EV et al. The content of pyridoxal coenzymes in the blood plasma of patients with coronary atherosclerosis on a background of therapeutic diet and after supplemental intake of vitamin B6. Vop Pitan 25: 40-44, 1966.
21. Hallert C, Astrom J, Walan A. Reversal of psychopathology in adult coeliac disease with the aid of pyridoxine (vitamin B6). Scand J Gastroenterol 18; (2):299-304, 1983.
22. Harrison AR et al. Hyperoxaluria and recurrent stone formation apparently cured by short course of pyridoxine. Br Med J 282: 2097-8, 1981.
23. Jaeger P. et al. Idiopathic hyperoxaluria cured by a short course of pyridoxine B6: Further evidence for B6-deficiency. Abstract. Clin Res 34, 2:546A, 1962.
24. Jones CL et al. Pyridoxine Deficiency: A New Factor in Diabetic Neuropathy. J Am Pod Assoc 68: 646-53, 1978.
25. Kasidas GP et al. Mild but clinically significant metabolic hyperoxaluria and its response to pyridoxine, in H von G Gasser, Wahlensieck W, Eds. Pathogenese und Klinik Harnstein XI. Darmstadt, Steinkopff Verlag, 394-9, 1985.
26. Kok FJ et al. Low vitamin B6 status in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol 63:513-16, 1989.
27. Kuzuya F. Arteriosclerosis in pyridoxine deficient-monkeys. Primates 2:99, 1959.
28. Kuzuya F F. Experiment on arteriosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis induced in pyridoxine-deficient monkeys and their recovery. Primates 3:77, 1962.
29. Kuzuya F. Reversibility of arteriosclerosis in pyridoxine-deficient monkeys, in G Schettler, Y Goto, Y Hata, G Klose, Eds. Atherosclerosis IV. Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 275-8, 1977.
30. Kuzuya F. Vitamin B6 and arteriosclerosis. Nagoya J Med Sci 55:1-4:1-9, 1993.
31. Lam SC et al. Investigation of possible mechanisms of pyridoxal-5-phosphate inhibition of platelet reactions. Thrombosis Res 20:633-45, 1980.
32. Leklem, JE. Vitamin B-6. In: Present knowledge in nutrition.7th edn. Washington DC: International Life Sciences Press. p 174-83, 1996.
33. Levene CI, Murray JC. The aetiological role of maternal B6 deficiency in the development of atherosclerosis. Lancet i:628, 1977.
34. Lewy A, Fox N. Clinical notes; New instruments and technics: Pyridoxine (B6) used in the treatment of vertigo. Arch Otolaryngol pp.681-3, Nov. 1947.
35. Lyon E, Borden T, Ellis J, Vermeulen C. Calcium oxalate lithiasis produced by pyridoxine deficiency and inhibition with high magnesium diets. Invest Urol 4: 133-142, 1966.
36. McCully KS. Vascular pathology of homocysteinemia: Implications for the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis. Am J Pathol 56: 111-128, 1969.
37. Milliner D, Eickholt J, Berstrahl E, et al. Results of long-term treatment with orthophosphate and pyridoxine in patients with primary hyperoxaluria. N Engl J Med 331; 23:1553-8, 1994.
38. Mitwalli A et al. Control of hyperoxaluria with large doses of pyridoxine in patients with kidney stones. Int Urol Nephrol 20; 4:353-9, 1988.
39. Murthy MS, Farooqui S, Talwar HS, et al. Effect of pyridoxine supplementation on recurrent stone formers. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 20; 9: 434-7, 1982.
40. Mushett CW, Emerson G. Arteriosclerosis in pyridoxine-deficient monkeys and dogs. Fed Proc 4:526-7, 1956.
41. Parry GJ, Bredesen DE. Sensory neuropathy with low dose pyridoxine. Neurology 1985; 35: 1466- 1468.
42. Prien EL, Gershoff S. Magnesium oxide-pyridoxine therapy for recurring calcium oxalate urinary calculi. J Urol 112:509-512, 1974.
43. Rattan VF, Sidhu H, Vaidyanathan S, et al. Effect of combined supplementation of magnesium oxide and pyridoxine in calcium-oxalate stone formers. Urol Res 22; 3:161-5, 1994.
44. Reinken L, Zieglauer H. Vitamin B6 absorption in children with acute celiac disease and in control subjects. J Nutr 108:1562, 1978.
45. Revusova V et al. The significance of oxaluria reduction by pyridoxine in prevention of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. Cas Lek Ces 121; 6:163-6, 1982.
46. Rinehart JF, Greenberg LD. Arteriosclerotic lesions in pyridoxine deficient monkeys. Am J Pathol 25:481-96, 1949.
47. Rinehart JF, Greenberg LD. Pathogenesis of experimental arteriosclerosis in pyridoxine deficiency with notes on similarities to human arteriosclerosis. Arch Pathol 51:12-29, 1951.
48. Rinehart JF, Greenberg LD. Vitamin B6 deficiency in the Rhesus monkey. Am J Clin Nutr 4:318-325, 1956.
49. Rhinehart JF, Greenberg LD. Vitamin B6 deficiency in the rhesus monkey, with particular reference to the occurrence of atherosclerosis, dental caries and hepatic cirrhosis. Am J Clin Nutr 4:318, 1956.
50. Roubenoff R et al. Abnormal vitamin B6 status in rheumatoid cachexia. Arthritis Rheum 1: 105-9, 1995.
51. Serofontein WJ, Ubbink JB, De Villiers LS, et al. Plasma pyridoxal-5-phosphate level as risk index for coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis 55:3:357-61, 1985.
52. Serofontein WJ, Ubbink JB, De Villers LS, Becker PJ. Depressed plasma pyridoxal-5′-phosphate levels in tobacco-smoking men. Atherosclerosis. 59: 341-346; 1986.
53. Shor-Posner G, Feaster D, Blaney N, et al. Impact of Vitamin B6 Status on Psychological Distress in a longitudinal Study of HIV-1 infection. Int J Psychol Med 24; (3):209-22, 1994.
54. Shultz TD, Santamaria AG, Gridley DS et al. Effect of pyridoxine and pyridoxal on the in vitro growth of human malignant melanoma. Nutr Res 8: 201-207, 1988.
55. Solomon LR et al. Erythrocyte O2 Transport and Metabolism and Effects of Vitamin B6 Therapy in Type II Diabetes mellitus. Diabetes 38: 881-86, 1989.
56. Stone S. Pyridoxine and thiamine therapy in disorders of the nervous system. Dis Nerv Sys 11;5:131-8, 1950.
57. Subbarao K et al. Pyridoxal 5’-phosphate – a new physiological inhibitor of blood coagulation and platelet function. Biochem Pharmacol 28:531-4, 1979.
58. Swift ME, Shultz TD. Relationship of vitamins B6 and Bl2 to homocysteine levels: Risk for coronary heart disease. Nutr Rep Int 34: 1-14, 1986.
59. Talbott MC, Miller LT, Kerkvliet NI. Pyridoxine supplementation effect on Lymphocyte responses in elderly persons. Am J Clin Nutr 46: 659-664, 1987.
60. Thind SK et al. Role of vitamin B6 in oxalate metabolism in urolithiasis. Abstract. Am J Clin Nutr 32; 6:20, 1979.
61. Ubbink JB, Vermaak WJH, van der Merwe A, Becker PJ. Vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, and folate nutritional status in men with hyperhomocysteinemia. Am J Clin Nutr 57:47-53, 1993.
62. Verhoef P, Stampfer MJ, Buring JE, et al. Homocysteine metabolism and risk of myocardial infarction: Relation with vitamin B6, B12, and folate. Am J Epidemiol 143:9:845-59, 1996.
63. Verrmaak WJ, Barnard HC, Potgieter GM et al. Plasma pyridoxal 5′-phosphate levels in myocardial infarction. S Afr Med J 70: 195-196, 1986.
64. Vermaak WJH et al. Vitamin B6 and coronary heart disease. Epidemiological observations and case studies. Atherosclerosis 63:235, 1987.
65. Vijayammal PL, Kurup PA. Pyridoxine and atherosclerosis: Role of pyridoxine in the metabolism of lipids and glycosaminoglycans in rats fed normal and high fat, high cholesterol diets containing 16% casein. Austral J Biol Sci 31:1:7-20, 1978.
66. Weisburger J. Nutritional approach to cancer prevention with emphasis on vitamins, antioxidant, and carotenoids. Am J Clin Nutr 53: S226-S237, 1991.

 

Sources
Joseph E. Pizzorno Jr., Michael T. Murrey & Melvyn R. Werbach.