•Several studies in pregnant women and
children in developing countries have shown enhanced response to iron
deficiency when
riboflavin is given with iron supplements
•
•In a trial in Sheffield involving 123 women
age 19-25 yrs who were
biochemically riboflavin deficient the three groups received placebo or 2 mg or 4 mg per day for
8 weeks
•
•Both doses resulted in a modest rise in Hb
with a dose-response
effect
•
•Those with the poorest status (found in 20%
of UK) experienced
a rise of ~0.4g/dl in Hb
•
•There was no observed increase in iron
absorption and improved
mobilisation from tissues is considered a possibility