Master Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Deficiency with Picmonic for Medicine

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Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

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Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Deficiency

Viking Bee (6) Sax

Picmonic

Vitamin B6 is a water soluble vitamin that is activated to form pyridoxal phosphate, a cofactor in many reactions in body. This cofactor is used in multiple reactions of amino acid metabolism, including tansamination and decarboxylation. Pyridoxal phosphate is also necessary for glycogen phosphorylase, cystathionine synthesis, heme synthesis, and the conversion of tryptophan to niacin. Vitamin B6 deficiency can cause low activity of these enzymes and lead to symptoms of hyperirritability, seizures, peripheral neuropathy, and sideroblastic anemia.

6 KEY FACTS

Isoniazid is a medication used in the treatment of TB and can cause depletion of vitamin B6. Therefore, individuals on long term isoniazid should receive vitamin B6 supplementation.

Several studies suggest that low dose oral contraceptives may negatively impact vitamin B6 status.

Severe vitamin B6 deficiency can result in neurologic changes including seizures. Seizures are defined as transient episodes of abnormal excessive neuronal activity.

Hyperirritability is a nonspecific symptom commonly associated with vitamin B6 deficiency.

Vitamin B6 deficiency can cause peripheral neuropathy, characterized by numbness, tingling, or pain in the arms and legs.

Pyridoxal phosphate, an active form of vitamin B6, is used as a cofactor for the enzyme ALA synthase in the heme synthesis pathway. Vitamin B6 deficiency can lead to improper heme synthesis and can cause sideroblastic anemia, characterized by ringed sideroblasts (hypochromic RBCs with basophilic granules) seen on bone marrow biopsy, and occasionally found in the peripheral blood on smear as well.

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