Vitamin B6 deficiency as related to oxalate-synthesizing enzymes in growing rats.

Chronic vitamin B6 deficiency in male rats, 1, 2 and 3 months of age, led to increases in the activities of liver glycolate oxidase and kidney glycolate dehydrogenase as compared to pair-fed controls. Lactate dehydrogenase activity either decreased or showed no change in all three age groups. It is postulated that hyperoxaluria observed in vitamin B6 deficiency is due to two different pathways operative in the liver and kidney separately. A general increase seen in the enzyme activities of livers and kidneys of B6-deficient and pair-fed rats was age related.