• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.688-694
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent research regarding vitamin $B_6$ status including biochemical index is limited. Thus, this study estimated intakes and major food sources of vitamin $B_6$; determined plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP); and assessed vitamin $B_6$ status of Korean adults. MATERIALS/METHODS: Three consecutive 24-h diet recalls and fasting blood samples were collected from healthy 20- to 64-year-old adults (n = 254) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, cities of Kwangju and Gumi, Korea. Vitamin $B_6$ intake and plasma PLP were analyzed by gender and by vitamin $B_6$ supplementation. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine associations of vitamin $B_6$ intake and plasma PLP. RESULTS: The mean dietary and total (dietary plus supplemental) vitamin $B_6$ intake was $1.94{\pm}0.64$ and $2.41{\pm}1.45mg/day$, respectively. Median (50th percentile) dietary intake of men and women was 2.062 and 1.706 mg/day. Foods from plant sources provided 70.61% of dietary vitamin $B_6$ intake. Only 6.3% of subjects consumed total vitamin $B_6$ less than Estimated Average Requirements. Plasma PLP concentration of all subjects was $40.03{\pm}23.71nmol/L$. The concentration of users of vitamin $B_6$ supplements was significantly higher than that of nonusers (P < 0.001). Approximately 16% of Korean adults had PLP levels < 20 nmol/L, indicating a biochemical deficiency of vitamin $B_6$, while 19.7% had marginal vitamin $B_6$ status. Plasma PLP concentration showed positive correlation with total vitamin $B_6$ intake (r = 0.40984, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, vitamin $B_6$ intake of Korean adults was generally adequate. However, one-third of subjects had vitamin $B_6$ deficiency or marginal status. Therefore, in some adults in Korea, consumption of vitamin $B_6$-rich food sources should be encouraged.