Water soluble vitamins in granulocytes, erythrocytes, and plasma obtained from chronic hemodialysis patients.

A granulocyte fraction, composed primarily of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, was harvested from six male and six female chronic hemodialysis patients receiving folate as their sole vitamin supplement. Cells were assayed for water soluble vitamins and levels compared with cells from 12 age- and sex-matched controls. Thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin B6 and B12 levels were not significantly different from controls. In contrast, pantothenate and biotin were significantly increased while ascorbate and nicotinate were significantly reduced in dialysis patients. Neutrophil folylmonoglutamates were significantly increased in chronic hemodialysis patients, but after conjugase treatment no significant difference was observed. The erythrocytes and plasma from these two groups were also compared. In the erythrocytes of chronic hemodialysis patients, no vitamin deficiencies were observed. Significantly elevated levels of vitamin B12, riboflavin, biotin, and pantothenate were present in the patients, while thiamin, vitamin B6, nicotinate, and ascorbate were not significantly different from controls. In plasma, only ascorbate was significantly decreased in the patient group; biotin, riboflavin, and pantothenate were elevated. No significant difference was observed for vitamins B6, B12, and thiamin.