Vitamin B6 is involved in over 100 reactions in the body as a coenzyme. New measurement methods in a large North European study show a clear link between low vitamin B6 levels and colon cancer risk.
Vitamin B6 is not actually a single substance, but a collective term for three chemically similar compounds: Pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. They are all precursors of the activated vitamin pyridoxal phosphate (PALP or PLP).
In regard to your metabolism, they can all be absorbed into each other, as their biological activity is identical. PALP plays an important role as a co-enzyme for the amino acid metabolism, needed for the formation of many neurotransmitters and hormones. In blood plasma it is present in 60 % as PALP, 15 % as pyridoxine and 14 % as pyridoxal. Further details on vitamin B6 and its applications and sources can be found in the review article on the topic.
In connection with tumors, it is assumed that vitamin B6 can reduce the proliferation of tumor cells, the formation of new blood vessels in the tumor and inflammatory reactions. Humans cannot produce the cofactor pyridoxal phosphate themselves and are therefore dependent on the supply of these precursors with food. It is used therapeutically in the treatment of neuropathies or as an enhancer of the effect of non-steroidal painkillers.
Lower risk of colon cancer due to higher B6 levels?
Recently, the renowned scientific journal American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a remarkable study on the relationship between vitamin B6 deficiency and the risk of colon cancer. This was caused by indications that a higher B6 level should reduce the risk of disease by up to 50%.
Among over 85,000 participants, people with vitamin-B6 deficiency had the highest risk of colon cancer.
24 years observation period
Over 115,000 samples from over 85,000 participants in the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study, observed and analyzed over 24 years, serve as the basis for this epidemiological investigation. This study, which now has over 133,000 participants, has been conducted by the University of Umeå in northern Sweden since 1986 and thus allows large-scale observations over a very long period of time.
This showed the highest risk of colon cancer in people with low pyridoxal phosphate levels. Who can be such persons? In daily life, alcohol, nicotine or old age can lead to a shortage. Taking the pill for women can also cause a vitamin-B6 deficiency with all its consequences.
Revolutionary measuring methods
Most remarkable about the study is not only the high number of participants, but also the fact that two completely new, improved methods were used to measure the risk – so-called biomarkers – instead of just measuring vitamin levels.
Both biomarkers demonstrated the increased risk at low vitamin-B6 levels. However, it takes about 10 years before this increased risk can be proven. It is therefore concluded that the role of vitamin B6 is more related to the proliferation of tumor cells than to their development.
