PubMed · 4481793
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S Barby. 1972. Chosen work.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4481793/
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BACKGROUND: Riboflavin, flavin mononucleotide (FMN), and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) concentrations have been little studied in cases of malnutrition. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the effects of malnutrition on riboflavin status and riboflavin's relation with thyroid hormones and concentrations of urinary organic acids. DESIGN: Malnourished children from the savannah in Benin (group S, n = 30) and the coast in Togo (group C, n = 30), as well as 24 control subjects from both regions, were studied. Blood riboflavin, FMN, and FAD were analyzed by HPLC; urinary organic acids were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Children in group S were more severely malnourished than children in group C. Triiodothyronine concentrations were lower in group S than in group C or the control group (1.12 +/- 0.24 compared with 1.74 +/- 0.18 and 2.92 +/- 0.19 nmol/L, respectively; P < 0.0001). Plasma riboflavin concentrations in group S were higher than those in group C or the control group (66.90 +/- 12.75 compared with 28.09 +/- 9.12 and 20.08 +/- 3.03 nmol/L, respectively; P < 0.001). Plasma FAD concentrations in group S were lower than those in group C or the control group (31.57 +/- 10.19 compared with 59.02 +/- 5.60 and 65.35 +/- 5.23 nmol/L, respectively; P < 0.0001). Dicarboxylic aciduria was higher in group C than in group S or the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Children in group S had low triiodothyronine concentrations and low conversion of plasma riboflavin into its cofactors, leading to a plasma FAD deficiency. Plasma FAD was not correlated with urinary dicarboxylic acid concentrations.
The organization Memisa Medicus Mundi puts the emphasis of its activities in third world countries such as Benin on the structural development of a solid health care system. This policy is being implemented through close cooperation with local partners. This strategy allows for interventions which do not upset the existing social relationships and which do not have a negative influence on the performance of health care institutions. The general health of the Benin population is poor: life expectation at birth is 47 years and 24% of children under the age of 5 suffer from undernutrition. With financial and technical support of Memisa, three hospitals have been set up in North Benin which later on were turned over to the Benin physicians. In addition, a system of medical insurance was started up, based on the traditional forms of mutual solidarity. Progress may be accelerated by coordinating the aid of non-governmental organizations in Benin; to this purpose, Memisa has aided in founding AMCES (Association des Oeuvres Médicales Privées Confessionnelles et Sociales--Private, Confessional and Social Health Care Association), a union that serves as a discussion partner for the government and helps supplying the country with medicaments.
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