Hepatic drug hydroxylation and lipid peroxidation in riboflavin-deficient rats.

The effect of riboflavin deficiency and phenobarbital pretreatment on drug hydroxylation and lipid peroxidation was investigated. A significant decrease in aniline and acetanilide hydroxylation as well as NADPH-linked and ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation was observed during 4- and 7-week riboflavin deficiency in both adult male and adult female rats. The drug-hydroxylation and lipid-peroxidation activities were further lowered with the increase in riboflavin deficiency. The phenobarbital pretreatment induced aniline and acetanilide hydroxylase activity even in riboflavin-deficient animals. Drug hydroxylation inhibits lipid peroxidation in both deficient and normal rats. The administration of riboflavin was followed by a significant increase in drug hydroxylation and lipid peroxidation.