Vitamin B6 status of young men, women, and women using oral contraceptives.

Vitamin B6 intakes of 33 males, 73 females, and 46 females using oral contraceptives, all 18- to 25-year-old students, were compared to coenzyme stimulation of erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase activities of blood samples obtained from these subjects in order to ascertain the vitamin B6 status and perhaps the requirements of this population group. Trained interviewers obtained 24-hour recalls; subjects supplied 2-day food records. Dietary record analyses revealed that students reported consuming slightly less kilocalories, more protein, and considerably less vitamin B6 than the 1974 recommended dietary allowances. Erthrocyte alanine aminotransferase activities, with and without additional coenzyme, of blood samples from the 3 groups were significantly different from each other; per cent coenzyme stimulation of enzymatic activity of females and females on oral contraceptives were significantly different from each other. Enzyme data were not significantly affected by race, age, income, food budget, preparation of own food, frequency of eating out, or vitamin supplementation. Several subjects in all 3 groups had high per cent stimulation values which is considered to be indicative of subclinical vitamin B6 deficiency. Subjects with values near 0 per cent stimulation had varying vitamin B6 intakes thus perhaps indicating large individual variations in vitamin B6 requirements.