Vitamin B6 plays an important role in the amino acid metabolism as coenzyme in the process ofdecarboxylation,deamination, transamination,desulphuration and transulphuration, in the biosynthesis of pyridine nucleotides and as transfer of amino acid into cells. In B6 deficient animals a reduced protein synthesis was found. Levels of the cardiovascular risk factor homocysteine were elevated after an oral methionine load in B6 deficient subjects. Serum vitamin B6 levels were assessed in a group of vegetarians (n = 25) and compared to non-vegetarians (n = 83; general population on traditional mixed diet from Bratislava). The second pair of investigations comprised 149 subject of the ethnicRomanyminority from Gbely (western Slovakia) comparised to 197 probands of the majority population. The highest vitamin B6 level was recorded in the vegetarian group with 12 % of deficient values. The average vitamin B6 level in the majority population group from Gbely is similar to that from Bratislava. Approximately half the subject of the general population suffer from vitamin B6 deficiency (55 % Bratislava, 43 % Gbely), which is caused by insufficient consumption of vitamin B6 rich foods such as whole grain or darkcereal products,soyanother pulses, oil seeds, grainsprouts. Conversely, these foods represent the main diet in vegetarians. The recommended dietary allowance of vitaminB6 is met in the general population only by 58%(men) and 52 % (women). In the group the Romany minority the vitamin B6 level is significantly lower in comparison to the majority population with a 74 % prevalence of deficient values.

        Key words: vitamin B6 - vegetarians - general population - Romany population