Definitions for "pyridoxal"
a B vitamin that is essential for metabolism of amino acids and starch
A form of vitamin B6. Pyridoxal phosphate is a major coenzyme involved in amino acid metabolism.
Pyridoxal is one of the three natural forms of vitamin B6, along with pyridoxamine and pyridoxine (also called "pyridoxol"). All of these forms are converted in the human body into a single biologically active form, pyridoxal 5-phosphate. All three forms of vitamin B6 are heterocyclic organic compounds.