Riboflavin status during pregnancy

The riboflavin status of 20 nonpregnant and 60 pregnant women (in the 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester, and early postpartum) was determined by the erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation test. None of the nonpregnant subjects but 26 pregnant subjects (21.7% in the 2nd trimester, 20.8% in the 3rd trimester, and 29.6% in early postpartum) had an activity coefficient greater than 1.20, indicative of biochemical deficiency of riboflavin. The deficiency developed at any of the three stages of pregnancy under study. Follow-up of individual cases revealed no progressive deterioration in riboflavin nutriture with advancement of pregnancy. The mean intake of riboflavin was higher than the recommended intake and revealed a significant negative correlation with activity coefficient values at the 3rd trimester. No significant correlation of riboflavin status with the outcome of pregnancy was noted. The effect of numbers of previous pregnancies, history of oral contraceptive usage, smoking, and alcohol showed no consistent effect on the percentage incidence of deficiency at all the three periods.