The effect of oral contraceptives on the apparent vitamin B 6 status in some Sudanese women

Abstract

1. In vitro activation of erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase ( EC 2.6.1.1) activity by pyridoxal phosphate was used to assess vitamin B 4 nutritional status in forty Sudanese women taking combined, low-dose oral contraceptives (oestrogen-progestogen; OC) and in thirty healthy, non-pregnant women not taking OC. 2. Fourteen (35%) out of forty OC users showed apparent vitamin B 4 deficiency. 3. Side-effects associated with OC were more common among the apparently vitamin-B 4 -deficient OC users than among OC users and non-OC users not deficient in vitamin B 4 .