K#{246}RNER Riboflavin status in pregnancy

ABSTRACT The riboflavin status in 651 pregnant women was determined by means of the erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation test. Although there was no significant correlation between the riboflavin status and the course or outcome of pregnancy, 25 % of the pregnant women in the first trimester-increasing to 40 % at term-were shown to be significantly riboflavin-depleted in comparison to a group of over 300 male and female blood donors. Riboflavin supplementation is therefore recommended to maintain normal coenzyme saturation of riboflavin enzymes. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 27: 1225-1230, 1974. It has been clearly demonstrated in animals that severe riboflavin deficiency may prevent conception, and a slight deficiency will not necessarily have any deleterious effect on the embryo (1, 2). On the other hand, a moderate degree of riboflavin malnutrition can cause fetal malformations in the rat (3-6)-mostly mesodermal abnormalities such as shortene