Jla. Ramos et al., VITAMIN DEPENDENT ERYTHROCYTE ENZYMES IN NEWBORNS IN RELATION TO GESTATIONAL-AGE AND BIRTH-WEIGHT, Journal of perinatal medicine, 24(3), 1996, pp. 221-225
In order to search for any difference in riboflavin and pyridoxine nut
rition between term appropriate for gestational age (TAGA), term small
for gestational age (TSGA) and preterm appropriate for gestational ag
e (PTAGA) newborns, cord blood from 23, 19 and 20 infants, respectivel
y, were studied, and red cell glutathione reductase (riboflavin-depend
ent) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (pyridoxine-dependent) acti
vities were measured, as well as their respective activity coefficient
s (GRase AC and GOT AC). Red cell enzymes were assayed according to BE
UTLER [4] in a Gilford recording spectrophotometer model 2451 at 37 de
grees C. Values of 1.42, 1.39 and 1.32 of GRase AC and values of 1.17,
1.02 and 1.08 GOT AC, respectively were obtained. These data indicate
that there is no significant difference between the three categories
of newborns with regard to riboflavin and pyridoxine nutrition, and su
ggest that neither maturity nor adequacy of intrauterine growth were r
elated to differences in the availability of these vitamins. All group
s demonstrate a uniform mild deficiency of riboflavin and an adequate
level of pyridoxine, probably the effect of maternal diet.