Deficient nutrition is associated with geographical/cultural reasons as well as deliberate malnutrition. Deprivation of proteins in diet results in reduction of muscle growth, decrease in metabolic rate and physical activity. An important nutritional factor that could protect against the effects of protein deficiency in patients undergoing physical exertion may be the B vitamins, especially vitamin B₆.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin B₆ supplementation on hematological parameters of rats fed 30 days a protein deficiency diet with or without physical exertion. B₆ supplementation significantly increased body mass and feed consumption in protein deficient rats. It also improved MCV and HGB levels. These results suggested that B₆ supplementation may protect bloodstream against effect of protein malnutrition in diets.