RIBOFLAVINE 



Vernal conjunctivitis is the name given to a fonn of conjunctivitis 

 associated with the hot season in the tropics ; it was benefited by 

 administration of riboflavine. L. Castellanos ^^ suggested that the 

 condition was due to riboflavine deficiency caused by the more rapid 

 destruction of the vitamin by ultra-violet light or by the greater 

 demand for the vitamin in the hot season. 



Other Conditions 



Riboflavine deficiency often accompanies spnie and steatorrhoea ; 

 on giving riboflavine, the steatorrhoea disappeared and riboflavine 

 was excreted in the urine. 2* Riboflavine deficiency can also be caused 

 by a lack of balance in the vitamin intake, even when the riboflavine 

 intake is relatively high.^^ It may also be produced by an excessive 

 metabolic demand, as in pregnancy. Of 900 pregnant women exam- 

 ined in Palestine, for instance, 190 had glossitis and heartburn during 

 the last trimester, the symptoms clearing up, without treatment, after 

 delivery. 2^ 



References to Section 10 



1. R. W. Vilter, S. P. Vilter and T. D. Spies, /. Amer. Med. Assoc, 



1939, 112, 420. 



2. W. H. Sebrell and R. E. Butler, U.S. Publ. Health Rep., 1938, 53, 



2282. 

 2a. M. K. Horwitt, O. W. Hills, C. C. Harvey, E. Liebert and D. L. 

 Steinberg, /. Nutrition, 1949, 39, 357. 



3. V. P. Sydenstricker, L. E. Geeslin, C. M. Templeton and J. W. 



Weaver, /. Amer. Med. Assoc, 1939, 113, 1697. 



4. V. P. Sydenstricker, Ann. Int. Med., 1941, 14, 1499 ; Amer. J. 



Publ. Health, 1941, 31, 344. 



5. J. W. Riddle, T. D. Spies and N. P. Hudson, Proc Soc Exp. 



Biol. Med., 1940, 45, 361. 



6. H. C. Hou, Chinese Med. J., 1941, 59, 324. 



7. T. D. Spies, W. B. Bean, R. W. Vilter and N. E. Huff, Amer. J. 



Med. Sci., 1941, 200, 697. 



8. T. E. Machella, ibid., 1942, 203, 114; T. E. Machella and P. R. 



McDonald, ibid., 1943, 205, 214. 



9. W. Hughes, Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med., 1946, 39, 437. 



10. V. P. Sydenstricker Amer. J. Publ. Health, 1941, 31, 344 ; V. P. 



Sydenstricker, W. H. Sebrell, R. M. Cleckley and H. D. Kruse, 

 /. Amer. Med. Assoc, 1940, 114, 2437 ; H. D. Kruse, V. P. 

 Sydenstricker, W. H. Sebrell and H. M. Cleckley, U.S. Publ. 

 Health Rep., 1940, 55, 157. 



11. H. C. Hou, Chinese Med. J., 1940, 58, 616. 



12. T. D. Spies, D. J. Perry, R. C. Gogswell and W. B. Frommeyer, 



/. Lab. Clin. Med., 1945, 30, 751. 

 176 



