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Background—Lower vitamin B₆ concentrations are reported to confer an increased and independent risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The mechanism underlying this relationship, however, remains to be defined. Other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, are associated with reduced vitamin B₆ levels. Despite a clear distinction in pathophysiology, inflammatory reaction may be the major link between these diseases. We hypothesized a relationship between pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), the active form of vitamin B₆, and the marker of inflammation C-reactive protein (CRP). We also evaluated whether total plasma homocysteine (tHcy), a well-defined risk factor for CVD and a major determinant of plasma PLP levels, had a possible role as a mediator of this hypothesized relationship.

Methods and Results—Data from 891 participants from the population-based Framingham Heart Study cohort were …