Plasma homocysteine concentrations of Indonesian children with inadequate and adequate vitamin B-6 status

Plasma homocysteine concentrations of Indonesian children with inadequate
and adequate vitamin B-6 status
David W. Girauda, Judy A. Driskell, , a and Budi Setiawanb
a

Department of Nutritional Science and Dietetics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806, USA;
b
Jurusan Gizi Masyarakat dan Sumberdaya Keluarga, Institut Pertanian, Bogor, Indonesia
Received 31 October 2000; revised 26 February 2001; accepted 3 March 2001; Available online 2 July 2001.

Abstract
The objective of the study was to determine the usefulness of utilizing plasma homocysteine concentrations as an
indicator of vitamin B-6 status in subjects with inadequate and adequate status as demonstrated by currently
accepted indicators. Plasma homocysteine concentrations of 77 third-grade Indonesian children (aged 8–9 y; boys
and girls) were measured. About a quarter of these subjects had inadequate vitamin B-6 status as indicated by their
plasma pyridoxal-5′-phosphate concentrations, erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase activity coefficients, and
reported dietary vitamin B-6 intakes. No significant differences in plasma homocysteine concentrations were
observed between subject groups shown to have inadequate and adequate vitamin B-6 status using currently
accepted indicators. Plasma homocysteine concentrations of the subjects were not correlated with values for other
vitamin B-6 indices. Plasma homocysteine concentration was not an indicator of vitamin B-6 status in these
children, as it did not differentiate between children shown otherwise to have inadequate and adequate status of the

vitamin.
Author Keywords: Plasma homocysteine; Vitamin B-6 status; Children; Indonesians

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