Hyporiboflvinosis in rural and urban pre‐school age children in Northeast Brazil

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Abstract
Dietary, biochemical, and clinical data have indicated that hyporiboflavinosis is a problem in Brazil. Since few studies have been done in Northeast Brazil on the pre‐school age child, a detailed study was conducted on preschool age children living in Recife and in a rural area. Both dietary and biochemical data indicated that the pre‐school age children living in a rural area (engenhos) had a lower intake and excretion of riboflavin compared with children living in Recife (Santa Terezinha). The probable reason for the observation is the higher milk consumption of the pre‐school age children in Santa Terezinha. These data confirm other nutrition studies in that the riboflavin status is better in pre‐school children living in Recife as compared to those living in the sugar cane area of northeast Brazil. Studies have been started at the Nutrition Institute, Recife, Brazil, to examine the effects of supplementation of sugar with riboflavin.