Graded Levels of Pyridoxine in the Rat Diet During Gestation and the Physical and Neuromotor Development of Offspring

The 1973 study by Alton-Mackey and Walker demonstrated that pyridoxine (vitamin B6) deficiency in pregnant rats' diets led to significant adverse effects on their offspring's development. Offspring from mothers with diets deficient in pyridoxine (0, 25, and 50% of recommended levels) had lower birth weights, developmental delays, lower survival rates, seizures, and impaired neuromotor skills such as crawling and standing. The study highlighted that even moderate pyridoxine deficiency during gestation could cause irreversible damage to the central nervous system development in offspring. The findings underscored the importance of adequate pyridoxine levels during pregnancy for optimal offspring development.