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Enzymatic evaluation of riboflavin status of infants
M S Bamji1, N Chowdhury, B A Ramalakshmi
1National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad.
Insights
Biochemical riboflavin deficiency affects 35% of solely breast-fed infants. While infant riboflavin status exceeds maternal levels, supplementation and weaning improve it, showing no link to growth.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional biochemistry
- Pediatric nutrition
Background:
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is crucial for infant development.
- Assessing riboflavin status in breast-fed infants is important for public health.
- Maternal nutritional status can impact milk composition and infant health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the riboflavin status of solely breast-fed (SBF) and partially breast-fed (PBF) infants.
- To compare infant riboflavin status with maternal status and milk riboflavin content.
- To investigate the effect of age, feeding practices, and weaning on infant riboflavin status.
Main Methods:
- Erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation test was used to assess riboflavin status.
- Maternal riboflavin status and milk riboflavin content were measured in study 1.
- Infants were categorized by age and feeding status (SBF, PBF, weaned).
Main Results:
- 35% of SBF infants (1-6 months) exhibited biochemical riboflavin deficiency.
- Infant riboflavin status was significantly better than maternal status.
- Supplementary feeding and weaning positively impacted infant riboflavin status.
- No clear correlation was found between riboflavin status and anthropometric measurements.
- Milk riboflavin concentrations were comparable to Western values despite maternal deficiency.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of solely breast-fed infants are at risk of riboflavin deficiency.
- Breastfeeding alone may not guarantee adequate riboflavin intake for all infants.
- Dietary interventions like supplementary feeding and timely weaning are beneficial for improving riboflavin status in infants.
Abstract:
Riboflavin status of solely breast-fed (SBF) infants aged 1-6 months (study 1) and solely or partially breast-fed (PBF) and weaned infants aged 6-24 months (study 2) was examined by the erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation test. Maternal riboflavin status and milk riboflavin content were also measured in study 1. Riboflavin status of the infants was significantly superior to that of their mothers. However, 35 per cent of SBF infants examined suffered from biochemical riboflavin deficiency as judged by the glutathione reductase test. Supplementary feeding of 6-8-month-old infants and weaning of older infants had positive effect on riboflavin status. There was no obvious relationship between riboflavin status and anthropometric status. Milk riboflavin concentration was comparable or only slightly lower than values reported for Western women, despite marked deficiency in the mothers.