Vitamin B6-mediated suppression of colon tumorigenesis, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis (review)

This review describes current research on the preventive effect of dietary vitamin B6 against colon tumorigenesis and its possible mechanisms. Studies in cell culture have demonstrated that high levels of vitamin B6 suppress growth of some cancer cells. From these studies it has been considered that supraphysiological doses of vitamin B6 suppress tumor growth and metastasis. However, recent rodent study has indicated that azoxymethane-induced colon tumorigenesis in mice is suppressed by moderate doses of dietary vitamin B6. Epidemiological studies also support an inverse relationship between vitamin B6 intake and colon cancer risk. Potential mechanisms underlying the preventive effect of dietary vitamin B6 have been suggested to include the suppression of cell proliferation, oxidative stress, nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, and angiogenesis.