Plasma concentrations of water-soluble vitamins in metabolic syndrome subjects.

CONTEXT Vitamins B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), and C (ascorbic acid) are vital for energy, carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism and in the regulation of the cellular redox state. Some studies have associated low levels of water-soluble vitamins with metabolic syndrome and its various components. AIMS This study aims to determine the plasma concentrations of vitamins B1, B3, B6, and C in Nigerians with metabolic syndrome and in healthy controls. SETTINGS AND DESIGN One-hundred subjects with metabolic syndrome were recruited into the study. One-hundred controls were age - and sex-matched. MATERIALS AND METHODS Blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, concentrations of plasma glucose, lipid profile, and vitamins B1, B3, B6, and C were estimated. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.0. RESULTS The mean plasma vitamins B1, B3, B6, and C concentrations of subjects were significantly lower than that of controls (P = 0.001, 0.05, 0.045, 0.001 respectively). Fourteen percent and 32% of subjects had inadequate vitamins B1 and C status, respectively. Vitamin B6 was lower (P = 0.001) and vitamin C was higher (P = 0.012) in female than in male subjects. CONCLUSIONS Thiamine, niacin, pyridoxine, and ascorbic acid levels were lower in subjects than in controls. Pyridoxine was also lower and ascorbic acid was higher in female than in male subjects.