American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 26, 858-860, Copyright © 1973 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Riboflavin deficiency in complicated chronic alcoholism

¹ From the Sarah C. Upham Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine and the Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College-Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York, N.Y.

Riboflavin deficiency was found in 11 of 22 alcoholic patients who required hospitalization for a number of complicating illnesses. The evidence of this deficiency was provided by increased erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity following in vitro addition to erythrocyte hemolysates of flavin adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme form of riboflavin. The biochemical abnormality, which was not accompanied by the classical physical findings of riboflavin deficiency, was corrected within 2 to 7 days by riboflavin administration. This sensitive and easily performed test can be used to evaluate previously unsuspected riboflavin deficiency in a variety of clinical conditions.