Metabolic vitamin B complex deficiency due to the administration of glucocorticoid.

Abstract

The influence of continuous use of glucocorticoid on the metabolism of vitamin B complex, especially B2, PaA and CoA in young children and rats was investigated. The following results were obtained.1. The observation upon the B2 metabolism in the children receiving continuously large amounts of the hormone shows that the blood B2 content and urinary B2 excretion after loading an adequate amount of FR are higher than in control children not given glucocorticoid. These changes are supposed to be reversible.2. Blood B2 and tissues B1, B2, PaA and CoA contents are increased in the early stage and decreased in the late stage by the continuous use of the hormone in rats. The changes in FAD fraction or CoA content are remarkably distinct compared with other B2 fractions or PaA.3. In adrenalectomized rat liver the total B2 content is slightly decreased, but the FAD fraction is reduced markedly. And also, it is proved that the FAD synthetic activity in adrenalectomized rat liver is definitly interfered with and again, CoA content in such liver is significantly suppressed.4. From these results the possibility for the occurrence of the iatrogenic disturbances in vitamin metabolism by the administration of large amounts of the hormone is suspected.