Low vitamin B6 associated with chronic inflammation

This study just published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition adds further evidence to the importance of evaluating Vitamin B6 for chronic inflammation, cardiovascular and otherwise. As the authors state, "Low vitamin B-6 status has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The cardioprotective effects of vitamin B-6 independent of homocysteine suggest that additional mechanisms may be involved." Their data demonstrated a powerful link: "We measured plasma pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and an oxidative DNA damage marker, urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)...There was a strong dose-response relation of plasma PLP concentration with plasma CRP. Increasing quartiles of PLP were significantly associated with lower CRP concentrations and with lower urinary 8-OHdG concentrations." Of equal importance was their finding that "Metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes were also significantly associated with low plasma PLP concentrations." It is important to note that they measured the  metabolically activated form of B6, not the one found in foods and most supplements. Many people have a genotype that does not allow them to accomplish this activation efficiently, which is why we supplement with the activated form when indicated.