Vitamin status during puerperium and lactation.

In a total of 22 healthy women, the concentrations of vitamin A, retinol-binding protein (RBP), beta-carotene, vitamin E, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP), folic acid, vitamin B12, biotin and vitamin C as well as the activities of the erythrocytic enzymes, erythrocyte transketolase (ETK), erythrocyte glutathione reductase (EGR) and erythrocyte glutamate oxalacetate transaminase (EGOT) were measured and compared at delivery, 3-5 days post-partum (pp) and 5-10 weeks pp. The mean values indicated a post-partal increase of vitamin A, RBP and vitamins B12 and C; and a post-partal decrease of PLP, folic acid, biotin, vitamin E and beta-carotene. The basal activities ETK0 rose at the end of puerperium above the values measured at delivery, while EGOT0 were lower than at parturition. None of the women had an adequate biochemical vitamin status for all vitamins measured over all three investigations. The biochemical vitamin deficiency of biotin was found most often, followed by vitamins B12, B6, C, A, folic acid, B2, B1 and beta-carotene; vitamin E status was optimal in all women.