Zinc, copper and iron levels in tissues of the vitamin B6 deficient rat.

Tissue zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) were determined in three groups of young male Wistar rats that received a daily pyridoxine hydrochloride (PN. HCL) intake of45, 23 and 0 μg respectively in their diets over 8 weeks. No significant differences were found in the Zn and Cu levels in the liver, kidney, skeletal and cardiac tissue ofall 3 groups. The Fe levels were significantly higher in the heart and liver and significantly lower in the skeletal muscle of the group receiving no PN.HCI in the diet (P< 0.05). This study indicates that the increased fecal excretion ofZn and Cu observed during a previous balance study on the above vitamin B 6 deficient group of animals may be due to a decreased absorption of these elements from the diet rather than their excretion from tissue stores. The changes in Fe levels in the heart, liver and skeletal muscle points towards some alteration in tissue stores of this element during a vitamin B 6 deficiency.