Abstract
Of 1017 patients admitted to the Royal Perth Hospital Diabetic Survey 142 were found to have significant bacteriuria. In these bacteriuric patients serum pyridoxal concentrations were significantly reduced (P = <0.001) when compared with 142 diabetic patients matched for age (±5 years) and sex but without infection of the urinary tract. Measurements were repeated up to 6 mth after antibacterial treatment and serum pyridoxal concentrations were still low.
Pyridoxal has a role in immunological competence, and it is possible that the increased incidence of urinary tract infection in patients with diabetes reflects impaired immunological competence due to pyridoxal deficiency.