American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 7, 526-531, Copyright © 1959 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Nutritional Evaluation of Flour Enrichment with Riboflavin in Israel

¹ From the Laboratory of Nutrition, Department of Biochemistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School and Antenatal Care Centers, Rothschild Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

A clinical and biochemical survey of 400 women during the latter half of pregnancy and early lactation, and belonging to the lower income strata of the Jewish population of Jerusalem, was performed in order to study their status of nutrition with regard to riboflavin. Clinically, no certain case of ariboflavinosis was found. Riboflavin examinations of 773 urine samples of these women showed "high" excretion in 77.3 per cent; "acceptable" excretion in 22.3 per cent, and "low" values in 0.4 per cent. In comparison to a similar survey conducted during the 1940's among pregnant women of similar social background, and living in the same quarters of Jerusalem, a considerable improvement has taken place. This is attributed mainly to the enrichment of flour with riboflavin.