Low Vitamin B6 Status in Kidney Transplant Patients is Associated with Increased Mortality
When functional levels of Vitamin B6 are measured to be lower in kidney transplant patients, they have a higher rate of dying (mortality), particularly due to cancer or infection. This correlates with other research associating low B6 levels with increased risk of mortality, cancer, and infection.
Vitamin B6 deficiency is common in renal transplant patients. Functional B6 status is measured by looking at levels of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, the biologically active form of vitamin B6. and the ratio of plasma 3-hydroxykynurenine and xanthurenic acid. Such functional measurements of vitamin B6 status are a more accurate assessment of vitamin B6 status than trying to measure direct B6 levels in the blood.
This goes to show that such functional vitamin deficiencies or insufficiencies can be a factor that increases your risk of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease and for longevity. Consider seeing Dr. Weitz for a nutritional consultation and having him run a full functional vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, amino acid, and fatty acid analysis through Genova or Spectracell. You need to know that the blood panels run by your MD for annual physical do not assess the functional status of vitamins and other nutrients, other than perhaps iron if an iron panel is included or vitamin D if this optional test is included. Optimize your intake of nutrients to reduce the likelihood of or to help control chronic diseases, like heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
Minovic I, Van Der Veen A, Van Faassen M, et al. Functional vitamin B-6 status and long-term mortality in renal transplant recipients. Am J Clin Nutr. December 2017. vol. 106 (6):1366-1374