ANN-0018
QUESTION
A deficiency of which one of the following B complex vitamin would make it more difficult to convert Trp to NMN and therefore potentiate a niacin deficiency?
OPTIONS
(A) Pyridoxine
(B) Folic acid
(C) Biotin
(D) Riboflavin
ANSWER
(A) Pyridoxine
EXPLANATION
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is required in enzymes involved in the conversion of tryptophan to niacin equivalents. Therefore B6 deficiency can impair this conversion and aggravate functional niacin deficiency; folate, biotin and riboflavin are important vitamins but are not the key vitamin in this specific conversion step.