Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 9, Issue 6 588-599, Copyright © 1990 by American College of Nutrition

CLINICAL TRIAL

Riboflavin intakes and status of morbidly obese females during the first postoperative year following gastroplasty

P. R. Turkki, L. Ingerman, L. A. Schroeder, R. S. Chung, M. Chen, M. A. Russo-McGraw and J. Dearlove
Department of Nutrition and Food Management, Syracuse University, New York 13244-1250.

Eighteen women participated in a prospective study to assess the need for supplemental riboflavin after gastroplasty. Three groups of five patients received either a placebo or 0.6 or 1.2 mg riboflavin daily for up to 12 months, except during months 4 and 7 when all participants were given a "one-a-day" supplement containing 1.7 mg riboflavin. Dietary intakes of riboflavin decreased from 1.43 +/- 0.17 mg before the operation to 0.70 +/- 0.07 mg at 3 months, and then increased to 1.02 +/- 0.17 mg by 6 months. Even at 12 months, only 33% of the subjects had dietary intakes greater than or equal to 1.2 mg. All those with total intakes less than or equal to 1.7 mg at 3 months had impaired riboflavin status, as indicated by an erythrocyte gluthatione reductase activity coefficient greater than 1.40 and an erythrocyte riboflavin concentration less than 372 nmol/L. In contrast, 62% of the same subjects had urinary riboflavin excretion in the acceptable range. Supplemental intake of 1.7 mg riboflavin appeared to prevent tissue depletion in all subjects.