Riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency can increase the risk of preeclampsia by nearly fivefold in pregnant women already at high risk of developing this complication.
Researchers examined the link between riboflavin deficiency and preeclampsia prospectively in 154 women already at high risk of this pregnancy complication.
The incidence of riboflavin deficiency during the study was 33.8%, where 27.3% of women were riboflavin-deficient at the first antenatal visit and 53.3% were deficient by the last weeks of pregnancy.
Riboflavin deficiency significantly increased the risk of preeclampsia almost 5-fold.
Intracellular free flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) levels were also significantly lower in women who developed preeclampsia than in those who did not. FAD is an important coenzyme synthesized from riboflavin.
Until more information is available, the authors recommend maintaining normal riboflavin levels in pregnant women. "In view of our findings and other known disturbances in pregnancy associated with riboflavin deficiency, an adequate riboflavin supply to pregnant women should be a goal," Dr. Johannes Fruhauf, of University Women's Hospital, in Mannheim, Germany, and colleagues say in the report.
Obstet Gynecol 2000;96:38-44.