American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

Which condition is associated with a deficiency of vitamin B6?

1. Neuropathy

2. Cardiomyopathy

3. Sideroblastic anemia and neuropathies

4. Pancytopenia

The correct answer is: Sideroblastic anemia and neuropathies

Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, plays a critical role in numerous physiological processes, particularly in the synthesis of neurotransmitters and red blood cell formation. A deficiency in vitamin B6 has been specifically linked to two notable conditions: sideroblastic anemia and neuropathies. Sideroblastic anemia is a type of anemia characterized by the presence of ringed sideroblasts in the bone marrow, which are indicative of impaired hemoglobin synthesis. Vitamin B6 is essential for the production of heme, the iron-containing component of hemoglobin. When Vitamin B6 is deficient, heme synthesis is disrupted, which can lead to the development of sideroblastic anemia. Furthermore, neuropathies, or nerve damage, are also associated with vitamin B6 deficiency. This is largely due to the vitamin's role in neurotransmitter synthesis, which is vital for proper nervous system function. A lack of B6 can lead to symptoms such as peripheral neuropathy, which can manifest as pain, tingling, or loss of sensation in the limbs. While neuropathy is a condition that can arise from other vitamin deficiencies as well, the combination of sideroblastic anemia and neuropathies specifically highlights the impact of vitamin B6 deficiency. Other