| Abstract: | The 'vitamin B6-homocysteine theory' has been proposed as an alternative to the widely accepted lipid hypothesis in the aetiology of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). In a cross-sectional study of 71 white men with evidence of IHD and 110 male controls (all aged 45-54 years) we have been unable to demonstrate any differences in plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) levels between the groups. It is therefore unlikely that deficiency of vitamin B6 has a primary causal role in development of IHD. However, 31% of the overall study population had low plasma PLP levels, and the possibility that underlying vitamin B6 deficiency may facilitate the actions of the primary risk factors for IHD therefore cannot be excluded. |
