Vitamin B6 levels in children after kidney transplant
What it found
In 10 children who had a kidney transplant, vitamin B6 blood levels were normal or high, and none were low.
Their diets provided more than the recommended amount of vitamin B6.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood vitamin B6 levels
The middle blood PLP level was 62.45 nmol/L. Two of the 10 children had levels above the reference range, and none had levels below it.
Vitamin B6 from food
On average, the children took in 138.7% of the reference nutrient intake for vitamin B6. None of them took vitamin B6 supplements.
Other findings
Comparison with adults
The authors note that adult transplant recipients have also been reported to have high blood PLP levels, which has been linked to possibly taking in too much.
What the authors conclude
“In this sample, no children appeared biochemically deficient, but 20% had elevated concentrations.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say no children in this sample appeared to be low in vitamin B6, but 20% had high levels.
- They note that dietary intakes were not excessive and no children took vitamin B6 supplements.
- They call for more research into how vitamin B6 is processed in this group.
How it was done
The authors wanted to check vitamin B6 intake and blood levels in children who have had a kidney transplant. They note there is no previous research on this in children.
They followed 10 children who had a kidney transplant, with a mean age of 11.9 years. They checked what the children ate and measured a form of vitamin B6 called PLP in their blood.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small study of 10 children, so the results may not apply to all children with a kidney transplant.
- The study measured vitamin B6 levels at one point in time, so it cannot show what happens over the long term.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, UK; University of Southampton, UK
The paper
- Title
- Vitamin B6 in Pediatric Renal Transplant Recipients
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Harmer M, Wootton S, Gilbert R, Anderson C (2019). Vitamin B6 in Pediatric Renal Transplant Recipients. Journal of renal nutrition. doi:10.1053/j.jrn.2018.09.003PubMed 30424951DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error