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

ABSTRACT

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