Efectos de la deficiencia de riboflavina sobre el desarrollo del tejido dentoalveolar, en ratas / Effect of riboflavin defficiency on dentoalveolar tissue development in rats

Objetivo: Determinar los cambios histomorfológicos que ocurren en el tejido dentoalveolar de la mandíbula de una progenie de ratas albinas sometidas a dietas con diferentes concentraciones de riboflavina (B2) e iguales concentraciones de los demás nutrientes, durante el periodo de gestación y lactancia, hasta los 28 días de edad. Diseño: Estudio experimental y analítico. Lugar: Centro de Investigación de Bioquímica y Nutrición Alberto Guzmán Barrón, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. Material biológico: Crías de ratas albinas Holtzman. Intervenciones: Se utilizó 60 crías de ratas, que fueron progenie de 16 ratas albinas Holtzman, conformándose 4 grupos con capacidad de reproducción y con diferentes requerimientos de riboflavina: Grupo A (100% de requerimiento de B2), Grupo B (50% de B2) Grupo C (25% de B2) y Grupo D (0% de B2). Las crías de cada grupo fueron sacrificadas a los 0, 7, 14, 21 y 28 días de nacimiento, y se sometió a estudios histológicos los tejidos dentoalveolares de 60 crías. Principales medidas de resultados: Alteraciones en la talla, peso corporal y el tejido dentoalveolar de las ratas crías. Resultados: Microscópicamente, el estudio reveló que la carencia total de riboflavina en la dieta materna (0% de B2) ocasiona en el tejido dentoalveolar de las crías cambios histomorfológicos, como pérdida de la polaridad nuclear, presencia de microvacuolas y áreas de pseudo-estratificación en ameloblastos y odontoblastos, disminución del número de células del tejido dentoalveolar, aparición de edema en predentina, disminución de las células activas en el caso de fibroblastos y cementoblastos, notable disminución y adelgazamiento de las fibras colágenas y reducción del grosor de las trabeculas óseas. Alteraciones similares pero en menor cuantía se halló en ratas con deficiencia de B2. Conclusiones: La carencia total de riboflavina (0%) en la dieta materna de las ratasdurante la gestación y lactación ...

Objective: To determine histomorphological changes in jaw dentoalveolar tissue in a progeny of albino rats fed with diets containing different concentrations of riboflavin (B2) and equivalent concentrations of other nutrients, during gestation and lactation and until 28 days of birth. Design: Experimental, longitudinal and analytical. Setting: Alberto Guzman Barron Biochemistry and Nutrition Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Biologic material: Holtzman albino rats. Interventions: We used 20 Holtzman albino rats (16 females and 4 males) with reproduction capacity and conformed four groups, according to the demands of riboflavin: Group A (100% of B2), Group B (50% of B2), Group C (25% of B2), and Group D (0% of B2). Submitted to ether anesthesia the offspring of each rats group was sacrificed at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days from birth and the dentoalveolar tissues of 60 offspring were subjected to histological examinations. Main outcome measures: Height, weight and dentoalveolar tissue alterations in rat progeny. Results: Deficiency (50% and 25%) and riboflavin total lack (0%) caused alterations on offspring growth and development. Microscopy revealed total lack of riboflavin (0%) in the mother's diet caused some histomorphological changes in the offspring dentoalveolar tissue, such as loss of nuclear polarity, presence of microvacuoles and areas of pseudo-stratification in ameloblasts and odontoblasts, decrease in the number of cells of the dentoalveolar tissue, edema in predentin, decrease in the number of fibroblasts and cementoblasts active cells, remarkable decrease and slimming of collagen fibers, and reduction of osseous trabeculae's thickness. Conclusions: Total lack of riboflavin in the rat mothers' diet during gestation and lactation causes less quantity and minor quality of ameloblasts.

Dietary determinants of pregnancy induced hypertension in Isfahan

Pregnancy-induced hypertension [PIH] is a pregnancy-specific condition that occurs after the 20th week of gestation. These physiologic changes can be aggravated by undernutrition. There are some evidence based on the importance of nutrient deficiency in developing this syndrome. Therefore, the aim of present study was to determine the nutritional risk factors for pregnancy induced hypertension in a group of pregnant women in Isfahan. In this case-control study, we recruited 46 Isfahanian pregnant women in two groups [with and without PIH]. They were 19 to 45 year-old and they did not consume any antihypertensive or diuretic medications. Demographic questionnaire and food frequency questionnaire were filled in both groups. There were no significant differences in energy and vitamin E and C intakes between the two groups. Zinc and calcium intakes were lower in women with PIH compared to those without PIH [P = 0.04 and P = 0.007, respectively]. Riboflavin and protein intakes were lower in women with PIH compared to subjects without PIH [P = 0.03 and P = 0.01, respectively]. Lower intake of calcium, zinc, riboflavin and protein should be considered as possible risk factors for PIH. Adequate intake of dairy products which are good sources of mentioned nutrients are recommended to prevent PIH

Assessment of riboflavin status by dietary intake and concentration in red blood cell of adult Saudis in Riyadh City - Saudi Arabia

Limited studies indicated riboflavin [Vitamin B2] deficiency among Saudi men, women and children in some regions of Saudi Arabia. These studies depended on glutathione reductase activity coefficient to assess the status of riboflavin and reported that insufficient riboflavin intake or impaired absorption may be the cause of its deficiency. The aim of this study was to assess the status of riboflavin of adult Saudis in Riyadh - Saudi Arabia by determining the average intake of three consecutive days and the concentration in red blood cells. 202 adult Saudis were recruited from Riyadh City. Body mass index [BMI] and hemoglobin concentration were also determined. The results showed that average riboflavin intake was 2.21 +/- 0.94 mg/day; average riboflavin concentration in red blood cells was 29.3 +/- 9.11 micro g/dL. Percentage of participants who had intake below DRI [Dietary Reference Intake] recommendation was 7.9% [n = 16] and these below EAR [Estimated Average Requirement] value was 1.4% [n = 3]. Concentrations of riboflavin in red blood cells of all participants were within normal range. BMI and hemoglobin values did not reveal existence of malnutrition or anemia, which negatively effect riboflavin status and its assessment. Results of this study showed that riboflavin deficiency due to inadequate intake or impaired absorption does not exist among adult Saudis in Riyadh City. However, this study recommends more investigations to determine causes of riboflavin deficiency that have been reported in previous studies

Riboflavin-deficient and Trichinella spiralis-induced stresses on plasma corticosterone associated with spermatogenesis in male Wistar rats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of riboflavin-deficient and Trichinella spiralis-induced stresses on corticosterone associated with spermatogenesis in male Wistar rats. Rats were allocated into 4 groups: Group 1: control; group 2: riboflavin-deficient diet; group 3: T. spiralis infection; group 4: riboflavin deficient diet with T. spiralis infection. This experiment lasted for 12 weeks. Plasma corticosterone was significantly enhanced when exposed to acute riboflavin deficiency and/or T. spiralis infection stress. When the rats were chronically subjected to such stresses, T. spiralis per se had prolonged effects, in a marked increase in corticosterone. T. spiralis per se tended to impact on such sperm characteristics as sperm motility, sperm count and daily sperm production, even defected seminiferous tubules. It was proposed that the Trichinella spiralis-induced stress probably had adverse effects on the level of adrenocortical-testicular axis whenever their habitats on muscle fibers were evident. However, riboflavin-deficient-induced stress had little implication in the adrenocortical-testicular axis.

El desarrollo histológico del tejido óseo en carencia de riboflavina / The histológico development of the bone tissue in deficiency of riboflavin

El presente trabajo de investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar los cambios histológicos que ocurren en el fémur y en la mandíbula de la progenie de ratas albinas durante la gestación y la lactancia hasta los 28 días de edad, sometidas con dietas de diferentes concentraciones de Riboflavina (B2). Se conformaron cuatro grupos de ratas albinas raza Holtzman con capacidad de reproducción y según el requerimiento de Riboflavina: Grupo A (100 por ciento de B2), Grupo B (50 por ciento de B2), Grupo C (25 por ciento de B2) y Grupo D (0 por ciento de B2). Las crías de las ratas de cada grupo fueron sacrificadas a los 0,7,14,21, y 28 días y se sometieron a un estudio histológico en tinción H.E. y Masson. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la deficiencia o la carencia total de B2, ocasiona alteraciones en el crecimiento y desarrollo de las ratas crías, manifestándose una menor talla y disminución del peso corporal y microscópicamente revela: que la carencia total de Riboflavina (0 por ciento) en la dieta materna ocasiona en el tejido óseo de las crías (fémur y mandíbula) una población celular menor de osteocitos, osteoblastos, osteoclastos y muy escasa cantidad de fibras colágenas en la matriz ósea, notándose dicha diferencia más marcada a partir de los siete días en adelante.

The investigation aims is determining the histological changes which appear in the femur and the jaw of the albino rats offspring during the gestation and the nursing, until the 28 days of age having different riboflavin concentrations in the diet. It was conformed four groups of Holtzman albinos rats with reproductions capacity, according to the demand of riboflavin: Group A (100% of B2), Group B (50% of B2), Group C (25% of B2) and Group D (0% of B2). The rats offspring of each group were extracted and sacrifidied at the 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days from the birth. Then they were submitted a histological studying with Eosin Hematoxylin and Masson Stains. The deficiency or total lack of B2, produced alterations in the offspring growth and development. The obtained results showed: small light and diminution of the corporal weight, and microscopically reveals: for total lack of Riboflavin in the diet (0%), presented reduction on the cellular populations of osteocytes, osteoclastes and osteoclastes a scare quantify of collagen fibers. That difference is more motorius from the 7 days of age.

High doses of riboflavin and the elimination of dietary red meat promote the recovery of some motor functions in Parkinson's disease patients

Abnormal riboflavin status in the absence of a dietary deficiency was detected in 31 consecutive outpatients with Parkinson's disease (PD), while the classical determinants of homocysteine levels (B6, folic acid, and B12) were usually within normal limits. In contrast, only 3 of 10 consecutive outpatients with dementia without previous stroke had abnormal riboflavin status. The data for 12 patients who did not complete 6 months of therapy or did not comply with the proposed treatment paradigm were excluded from analysis. Nineteen PD patients (8 males and 11 females, mean age ± SD = 66.2 ± 8.6 years; 3, 3, 2, 5, and 6 patients in Hoehn and Yahr stages I to V) received riboflavin orally (30 mg every 8 h) plus their usual symptomatic medications and all red meat was eliminated from their diet. After 1 month the riboflavin status of the patients was normalized from 106.4 ± 34.9 to 179.2 ± 23 ng/ml (N = 9). Motor capacity was measured by a modification of the scoring system of Hoehn and Yahr, which reports motor capacity as percent. All 19 patients who completed 6 months of treatment showed improved motor capacity during the first three months and most reached a plateau while 5/19 continued to improve in the 3- to 6-month interval. Their average motor capacity increased from 44 to 71 percent after 6 months, increasing significantly every month compared with their own pretreatment status (P < 0.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Discontinuation of riboflavin for several days did not impair motor capacity and yellowish urine was the only side effect observed. The data show that the proposed treatment improves the clinical condition of PD patients. Riboflavin-sensitive mechanisms involved in PD may include glutathione depletion, cumulative mitochondrial DNA mutations, disturbed mitochondrial protein complexes, and abnormal iron metabolism. More studies are required to identify the mechanisms involved

Antioxidant enzyme levels in the erythrocytes of riboflavin-deficient and Trichinella spiralis-infected rats.

The erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) of riboflavin-deficient and Trichinella spiralis-infected rats were investigated. The rats were deprived of riboflavin at the 8th week of the experiment. At that time, the erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGR AC), as an indicator of riboflavin status, was > or = 1.30 in rats fed a riboflavin-deficient diet and T. spiralis-infected rats fed a riboflavin-deficient diet showed no biochemical sign of riboflavin deficiency. At the 12th week of the experiment, the levels of catalase, SOD and GSH-Px were significantly lower in the riboflavin-deficient, T. spiralis-infected, and combined riboflavin-deficient and T. spiralis-infected, rats, compared to the control group. This may have been due to an increase in free oxygen radicals caused by riboflavin deficiency and parasitic infection.

Estado nutricional y vitaminas B1 y B2 en ancianos no institucionalizados / Nutritional condition and B1 and B2 vitamin in non-institutionalized old people

Con el objetivo de conocer el estado nutricional de las vitaminas B1 y B2 en ancianos no institucionalizados se estudiaron 50 individuos mayores de 60 años de 2 áreas de salud del municipio Centro Habana. Los niveles de las vitaminas B1 y B2 fueron determinados mediante las técnicas de estimulación de las enzimas eritrocitarias transcetolasa y glutatión reductasa, se midieron el peso corporal y las distancias hombro-codo y rodilla-talón para evaluar el índice de masa corporal (IMC). La ingestión dietética de estas vitaminas se estimó por una encuesta cuantitativa por registro de alimentos de 3 días en una submuestra de 21 ancianos. Se indagó sobre hábitos tóxicos y uso de suplementos vitamínicos. Se encontró que el 65 y el 64(por ciento) de los ancianos tenían niveles deficientes y subóptimos de vitaminas B1 y B2 respectivamente. Aproximadamente el 40(por ciento) de los ancianos no cumplían el 50(por ciento) de las recomendaciones diéteticas diarias para ambas vitaminas. No se hallaron diferencias significativas de los niveles de las vitaminas entre sexos. Alrededor del 60(por ciento) tenía un adecuado IMC. El IMC fue significativamente mayor en las mujeres, los mayores de 80 años tenían un IMC significativamente menor. No se encontró asociación entre el IMC y los niveles subóptimos de las vitaminas. Los niveles de vitaminas no variaron según el hábito de fumar y el consumo de bebidas alcohólicas. Sólo el 36(por ciento) de los ancianos consumía vitaminas como suplemento dietético; había mayor proporción de individuos deficientes de ambas vitaminas en el grupo no consumidor. Estos resultados demuestran la necesidad de mejorar el estado nutricional de estas vitaminas en este grupo de población

Application of riboflavin-deficient rat erythrocytes in the in vitro assay of faba bean toxicity

Faba bean toxicity [favism] is a common condition observed in our region. To develop a short and simple technique involving the use of riboflavin-deficient rats to test in vivo faba bean toxicity. Methods/Sprague Dawley rats were maintained on a riboflavin- deficient diet and their vitamin B2 status was monitored by the assay of erythrocyte glutathione reductase [EGR]. Their blood was found to be sensitive enough as early as 5 weeks of eating the deficient diet. Initially RBC preparations from the riboflavin-deficient rats were used to test the toxicity of different concentrations of divicine [0.0-13.5 microM]. It was found that an increase in divicine concentration resulted in an appreciable drop in reduced glutathione [GSH] of RBC. The assay procedure was then used to test the effectiveness of certain detoxification treatments of faba beans. A high correlation [r= 0.9] was noted between residual vicine [the main favism factor] concentration and the toxicity index [TI] of treated samples indicating the suitability of the above procedure for toxicity assay. It is recommended to use blood from Sprague Dawley rats that have been fed a riboflavin-deficient diet for about 5 weeks or longer, in the bioassay of toxicity of faba beans and their isolated favism principles

Glutathione reductase deficiency in Saudi Arabia

Glutathione reductase [GR] is a ubiquitous enzyme required for the conversion of oxidized glutathione [GSSG] to reduced glutathione [GSH] concomitantly oxidizing reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NADPH] in a reaction essential for the stability and integrity of red cells. Mutations in the GR gene and nutritional deficiency of riboflavin, a co-factor required for the normal functioning of GR, can cause GR deficiency. We conducted a study on 1691 Saudi individuals to determine the overall frequency of GR deficiency and to identify whether the deficiency results from genetic or acquired causes or both. The activity of GR was measured in freshly prepared red cell haemolysate in the presence and absence of flavin adenine dinucleotide [FAD] and the activity coefficient [AC] was determined. Samples with low GR activity [> 2.0 IU/g haemoglobin] both in the presence and absence of FAD and an AC between 0.9 and 1.2 were considered GR-deficient. Samples with AC >/= 1.3 were considered riboflavin-deficient. The overall frequency of partial GR deficiency was 24.5% and 20.3% in males and females respectively. In addition, 17.8% of males and 22.4% of females suffered from GR deficiency due to riboflavin deficiency. This could be easily corrected by dietary supplementation with riboflavin. No cases of severe GR deficiency were identified

Thiamin and riboflavin status of medical inpatients.

Thiamin status was assessed by erythrocyte transketolase activity (ETKA) and thiamin pyrophosphate effect (TPPE) and riboflavin status by erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity (EGRA) and activity coefficient (AC) in 165 medical inpatients in Ramathibodi Hospital. Based on TPPE > 15 per cent, 9 per cent of the medical inpatients had thiamin depletion. Most of them were patients with renal, cardiovascular, hematological and infectious diseases. Based on AC > or = 1.2, 17 per cent of these inpatients had riboflavin depletion. Most of them were patients with pulmonary, cardiovascular and hematological diseases. Only one patient with pulmonary disease had both thiamin and riboflavin depletion. The proportion of thiamin depletion (2/37) in subjects with thiamin supplementation (mean 32.4, median 6, mode 2 md/d) tended to be less than those without (9/98). But, subjects with riboflavin supplementation (mean 3.3, median 4, mode 1 md/d) had the proportion of riboflavin depletion (0/31) significantly (Z-test, p < 0.005) lower than without supplementation (23/104). The data suggested that although the usual dose of vitamin supplementation in medical inpatients is beneficial thiamin depletion can still be present in catabolic patients.

Riboflavin metabolism--relevance to human nutrition.

Studies in developing countries like India have revealed a very high incidence of biochemical riboflavin deficiency, particularly in women and children as judged by erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation test (EGR-AC). Riboflavin deficiency can cause conditioned deficiency of vitamin B6 and the mucocutaneous lesions observed in these two vitamins deficiencies could be due to impaired skin collagen maturity. Subclinical riboflavin deficiency impairs psychomotor function and vitamin B2 requirement may be enhanced during increased physical activity. Riboflavin status is not dependent exclusively on dietary intake of the vitamin, certain non-dietary factors can modify riboflavin status. Respiratory infection, certain diseases, drugs and hormones can influence riboflavin metabolism.

Estado nutricional con respecto a vitamina B2 en un grupo de adultos, antes y después de la suplementación / Ribofavin nutritional status of a group of adults, before and after supplementation

Se evaluó el estado nutricional con respecto a vitamina B2 (riboflavina), en 61 mujeres y 15 varones, clínicamente sanos,universitarios de la Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, que no tomaban suplementos vitamínicos. Se calculó la ingesta de vitamina B2 mediante una encuesta dietética de 7 días. Se determinó, en hemolizado de glóbulos rojos, el grado de estimulación de la glutation reductasa eritrocitaria o coeficiente de actividad, que aumenta en la inadecuación nutricional a valores superiores a 1,30. En los individuos con valores de inadecuación se estudió el efecto de administración de 5 mg/día de riboflavina, durante una semana. Las ingestas de vitamina B2 (mg/día) fueron, en mujeres y varones, respectivamente: 1,19 ñ 0,44 y 1,65 ñ 0,74, representando 91,5 y 97,0 por ciento de las ingestas recomendadas, siendo inferiores a éstas en 75,4 por ciento de mujeres y en 53,3 por ciento de varones. Desde el punto de vista bioquímico el porcentaje de individuos con inadecuación fue 26,2 por ciento en las mujeres y 26,7 por ciento en los varones. En estos casos el índice se normalizó luego de la administración de la riboflavina (1,51 ñ 0,14 vs. 1,13 ñ 0,14; p < 0,0001). Estos datos indican deficiencia específica de vitamina B2, de menor incidencia que la reflejada por la ingesta diaria, que se relacionó con el bajo consumo de productos lácteos

Revisión bibliográfica actualizada sobre cambios dentofaciales y malformaciones congéticas inducidas por deficiencia aguda de riboflavina / A current review of the literature on dentofacial changes and congenital malformations induced by acute riboflavin deficiency

La riboflavina no es sintetizada por animales superiores en cantidad suficiente como para cubrir las necesidades nutricionales, por lo cual debe ingerirse en los alimentos. La deficiencia aguda de riboflavina en edad embrionaria puede ocasionar malformaciones esqueléticas y alteraciones bucofaciales, siendo el esqueleto membranoso el primero en manifestar los signos de este sindrome. Entre las diferentes anomalías tenemos: braquignacia, fusión de las costillas superiores, ausencia de tibia, atresia del esófago, excenfalia, protrusión de la lengua, incisivos inferiores ausentes, paladar hendido, atrofia de los músculos milhoideo y masetero, sindactilia, abducción de las manos. Se acepta que el agentes causante de estas alteraciones es la hiporriboflavinosis, la cual afecta la multiplicación de células mesenquimatosas durante la vida intrauterina. Si bien estas anomalías no son exclusivas de la deficiencia de riboflavina, se puede afirmar que ciertas deficiencias nutricionales en madres durante el período de gestación pueden causar defectos congénitos en los descendientes.

The relationship between maternal nutritional status and spontaneous abortion.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pregnancy wastage is high among poor women. Though the aetiology of spontaneous abortion is multifactorial, nutritional deficiency is considered to be an important contributory factor. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted to assess the relationship between maternal vitamin status and spontaneous abortion. RESULTS: The incidence of anaemia (15%), and riboflavin (84%) and folate deficiency (24.5%) were similar among the cases and controls. Vitamin A levels were higher in the study group compared to those in controls. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that various nutrient deficiencies have no correlation with the occurrence of spontaneous abortion. The role of increased vitamin A levels needs to be studied further.

Comparison of Riboflavin Status between Traditional Farming Women and Commercial Farming Women in Korea / 대한지역사회영양학회지

this study was undertaken to compare the riboflavin status of rural women with different physical activity intensity and to determine factors influencing biochemical fiboflavin status. The study was carried out over three different farming seasons : planting (June), harvest(October) and interim(February) in two rural regions of Korea. One was a traditional farming region, the other a commercial farming region with heavier work intensity. Twenty women in the traditional region and eighteen women in the commercial region were involved. The intensity of physical activity was determined by a daily activity record. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedence. Dietary riboflavin intake was measured by the food frequency method. Riboflavin biochemical status was assessed by erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGR AC) and ruinary riboflavin excretion. The results from the EGR AC and urinary riboflavin excretion during the period showed the overall riboflavin status of the commercial farming women was significantly worse than that of the traditional farming women(EGR AC p<0.0001, urinary riboflavin excretion p<0.05). The traditional farming group had about 40% with risk of riboflavin deficiency, whereas the commercial farming group had about 70%. Overall mean nutrient intake was not significantly different between the two groups, however, overall mean percent lean body mass representing long term physical activity was significantly higher in the commercial farming group (<0.005). It appears that the biochemical riboflavin status of traditional farming women was significantly influenced by riboflavin intake and crude nitrogen balance while the biochemical riboflavin status of the commercial farming women was significantly influenced by riboflavin intake and percent of lean body mass over the three seasons.

Vitamin B1, B2 and B6 deficiency in primary school children infected with hookworm.

One thousand and seven hundred thirty-six school children from two districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province were screened for hookworm infection using the Kato-Katz stool examination technic. Two hundred students who have at least 2,000 eggs per g of stool were recruited into the program. The students were divided into six groups: groups 1, 2 and 3 were from Tha Sala district while groups 4, 5 and 6 were from Ronpibul district. Three milliliter blood samples were obtained from the cubital vein of each subject and were evaluated for erythrocyte transketolase activity (ETK) for vitamin B1, erythrocyte glutathione oxidoreductase activity (EGR) for vitamin B2, and erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase activity (EAST) for vitamin B6. The school children were divided into three groups: those infected only with hookworm, those with both hookworm and Trichuris trichiura, and those whose stools show no parasite eggs. The results show that 10-20% of the school children are vitamin B1 deficient, about 40% to 80% are vitamin B2 deficient, and about 14% to 23% are vitamin B6 deficient. No correlation could be made between vitamin deficiencies and parasitic infection.

Vitamin B1, B2 and B6 status of vegetarians.

The vitamin B1, B2 and B6 status was determined in 132 healthy vegetarians, age range 25-57 years who have been practising vegetarianism for 1-22 years. Sixty-eight healthy non-vegetarians were chosen as controls. The conventional methods to measure the activation coefficient alpha ETK, alpha EGR and alpha EAST were applied to assess the vitamin status of B1, B2 and B6 respectively. The value of 1.25 alpha ETK, 1.5 alpha EGR and 2.0 alpha EAST and above indicate a deficiency in the vitamin status. The results showed significantly poorer vitamin B1 and B6 status in vegetarians than in non-vegetarians, whereas, no significant difference in vitamin B2 status was found. None of the non-vegetarians were deficient in vitamin B1 but 3 of them (4.4%) were deficient in vitamin B6. On the other hand, 10 of vegetarians (7.6%) were deficient in vitamin B1; 38 (28.8%) in vitamin B6. A high prevalence of riboflavin deficiency was found in 32 (24.2%) of the vegetarians; as well as in 15 (22.2%) of the non-vegetarians. Only riboflavin status was significantly related with the duration of vegetarianism practiced. Vegetarians should be considered as the vulnerable group for vitamin B2 and vitamin B6 deficiencies. B-vitamins status should be checked and efforts should be made to improve through dietary counselling and nutritional education should be included and stress in the health education program in order to improve nutritional deficiencies.