Impact of lifestyle factors on dietary vitamin B(6) intake and plasma pyridoxal 5′-phosphate level in UK adults: National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme (NDNS) (2008–2017)

Reduction in dietary vitamin B(6) intake is associated with an increased relative risk of diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis and cognitive dysfunction. The current research has assessed vitamin B(6) intakes and PLP concentrations as a marker of vitamin B(6) status among the UK adult (≥ 19 years) population. This study was carried out using a cross-sectional analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme (NDNS) (2008–2017). The impacts of lifestyle factors, including type of diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and commonly used medications grouped by therapeutic usage, were determined, and data were analysed using IBM SPSS(®). Results are expressed as medians (25th–75th percentiles), with P values ≤ 0·05 considered statistically significant. Among UK adults, the median intakes of total population of dietary vitamin B(6) met the reference nutrient intake and median plasma PLP concentrations were above the cut-off of vitamin B(6) deficiency; however, we found an association between reduction in vitamin B(6) intake and plasma PLP concentration and age group (P < 0·001). Smokers had significantly lower plasma PLP concentrations than non-smokers (P < 0·001). Moreover, regression analysis showed some commonly used medications were associated with plasma PLP levels reduction (P < 0·05). Taken together, we report on a tendency for dietary vitamin B(6) intake and plasma PLP concentrations to decrease with age and lifestyle factors such as smoking and medication usage. This information could have important implications for smokers and in the elderly population using multiple medications (polypharmacy).