Interactions of Steroid Hormones and Pyridoxine in the Regulation of Oxalate Metabolism in Rats

Endogenous oxalate excretion in man and the rat is inversely related to the amount of vitamin B6 in diet. Pyridoxine-deficient rats produce more oxalate from glycolic acid, ethylene glycol, ethanolamine and xylitol. The effect of vitamin B6 deficiency is eliminated by hepatectomy, indicating that this effect is mediated via the liver enzymes. The role of sex hormones in regulating enzymes of oxalate biosynthesis1 and a sex-related occurrence of calcium oxalate calculi, with a higher prevalence in male rats fed a vitamin B6-deficient diet, have been reported2. The interaction of pyridoxine deficiency and estradiol administration on the enzymes of oxalate biosynthesis have been elucidated.