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Riboflavin Excretions of Young Women on Diets Containing Varying Levels of the B Vitamins¹

One Figure

Department of Home Economics, University of Chicago, Illinois

The riboflavin excretion of young women on a diet in which the amount of the vitamin was progressively increased was followed during an 8-month period.

From an initial intake during periods I-a and I-b of 0.29 and 0.28 mg/1000 Cal., the riboflavin level was increased by the addition of milk and by other dietary changes to 0.49 and 0.66 mg/1000 Cal. during periods II and III. In period IV, which lasted 2 weeks, the total daily intake was 7.1 mg. During period V, 3 weeks long, the intake averaged 0.63 mg/1000 Cal.

Physical examinations at the beginning of the experiment and following periods I-a and I-b revealed no signs of riboflavin deficiency.

Daily urinary excretions "levelled off" within 10 days after each change in diet. Average daily excretions during the first four periods were 119, 107, 150, and 263 µg, respectively. Excretions rose sharply during supplementation, but after 2 weeks on a lower intake the average excretion was 325 µg.

Levels of fecal excretion of riboflavin differed considerably among individuals, but the amount excreted by each person remained relatively constant despite dietary variations.

Test dose returns at the end of periods I-a and I-b averaged 2.8 and 4.5%. With increased intake in periods II and III, the average returns were raised to 11.8% and 14.3%, respectively. Test dose returns were not increased by supplementation, the average at the end of period V being 15.6%.

² The data reported in this paper were taken from a thesis presented by Margaret V. Davis to the Faculty of the Division of Biological Sciences of the University of Chicago in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Manuscript received 11 February 1946.