Riboflavin deficiency in the rat: effects on iron utilization and loss

Iron absorption and daily loss of Fe were measured in riboflavin-deficient (B2-) Norwegian hooded rats and controls (B2+). Animals were fed on a test meal extrinsically labelled with 59Fe and whole-body radioactivity measured for 15 d. Riboflavin deficiency led to a reduction in the percentage of the 59Fe dose absorbed and an increased rate of 59Fe loss. All post-absorption 59Fe loss could be accounted for by faecal 59Fe, confirming that the loss was gastrointestinal. Fe concentrations and 59Fe as a percentage of retained whole-body 59Fe were higher in the small intestine of riboflavin-deficient animals than their controls, 14 d after the test meal. A separate experiment demonstrated that riboflavin deficiency was associated with a significant proliferative response of the duodenal crypts of the small intestine. These observations may explain the enhanced Fe loss in riboflavin deficiency.