Conversion of Vitamin B 6 Compounds to Active Forms in the Red Blood Cell BARBARA

This work was presented in part at the 8th International Congress of Haematology, Munich 1970. Received for publication 30 November 1970 and in revised form 25 February 1971. Pyridoxamine was converted to active forms in red cells less efficiently. Pyridoxal entered red cells rapidly, equilibrating between plasma and cells within 1 min in the same ratio as pyridoxal formed inside red cells. Pyridoxal phosphate did not enter red cells in whole blood but did so readily in washed cells in saline.