Vitamin cofactor saturation indices for riboflavin, thiamine, and pyridoxine in placental tissue of Kenyan women.

Vitamin cofactor saturations of placental enzymes were assayed in 54 Kenyan women. In addition, studies were conducted to determine whether placental vitamin deficiencies were associated with deficiencies in maternal or cord blood and to determine whether neonatal birthweights were influenced by vitamin nutriture. All samples were analyzed by vitamin cofactor saturation tests of glutathione reductase, transketolase, and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. Standard indices were used to determine vitamin deficiencies. The activity of placental diamine oxidase, a pyridoxal phosphate-requiring enzyme was also measured and examined in relation to pyridoxine nutriture. No placental riboflavin deficiencies were found although 73% of maternal red blood cells (RBC) and 35% of cord RBC were deficient. Thiamine deficiencies were found in 15% of placentas, 59% of maternal RBC and 41% of cord RBC. Pyridoxine deficiencies occurred in 24% of placentas, 35% of maternal RBC, and 15% of cord RBC. Low birth weights were found to be associated with maternal riboflavin deficiencies. Maternal RBC riboflavin and thiamine deficiencies correlated with deficiencies in cord blood, and pyridoxine deficiencies in maternal RBC were associated with deficiencies in the placenta. A trend of lower placental diamine oxidase activity was noted in pyridoxine-deficient placentas and pyridoxine-deficient mothers.