This vitamin plays an important part in the metabolism of a number of AMINO ACIDS. Deficiency leads to ATROPHY of the EPIDERMIS, the hair follicles, and the SEBACEOUS glands, and peripheral NEURITIS may also occur. Young infants are more susceptible to pyridoxine deficiency than adults: they begin to lose weight and develop a hypochromic ANAEMIA; irritability and CONVULSIONS may also occur. Liver, yeast and cereals are relatively rich sources of the vitamin; fish is a moderately rich source, but vegetables and milk contain little. The minimal daily requirement in the diet is probably about 2 mg. (See APPENDIX 5: VITAMINS.)