Research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (2009;18(8):2195–2201) compared 224 patients with colorectal cancer to 411 healthy controls and examined blood levels of pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP), the biologically active form of vitamin B6.
The researchers found that PLP levels were lower in patients with colorectal cancer than in the control group. Based on this association, the authors suggested that adequate vitamin B6 status may be linked to a lower risk of colorectal cancer.
While this was an observational study and cannot establish causation, the findings add to evidence suggesting a potential role for vitamin B6 in colorectal health, possibly through effects on inflammation, DNA synthesis, or methylation pathways.
