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Abstract

An increase in the size and cellularity of duodenal crypts and a decreased incidence of bifurcating crypts is observed in response to very short-term feeding of a riboflavin-deficient diet to weanling rats. A study was conducted to determine whether the absence of riboflavin in the lumen of the small intestine impairs gastrointestinal development. Forty-eight female weanling Wistar rats were allocated to one of two treatment regimens, to receive either a riboflavin-deficient diet and a daily intraperitoneal injection of flavin mononucleotide (luminally deficient group) or a complete diet and a daily intraperitoneal injection of saline (control group). Animals were killed at 93, 141, or 165 hr from feeding. The flavin injection regimen maintained normal systemic riboflavin status in the luminally deficient group. In this group, however, crypt hypertrophy and reduced crypt bifurcation were evident by 141 hr of luminal riboflavin deprivation. The absence of riboflavin in the duodenal lumen impairs normal development, suggesting that a crypt sensing mechanism may be involved in the response to riboflavin deficiency.

Effect of riboflavin on intestinal development and intestinal epithelial cell function of weaned piglets

“…Lack of riboflavin inhibits normal increase of villus, thus affecting the function of villus (Yates et al, 2003). In the current study, piglets fed diets with low riboflavin content showed decreased duodenal VH.…”

“…Previous studies report that lack of riboflavin in the diet, affects normal development process of pigs (Williams et al, 1996b;Yates et al, 2003). Frank et al (1988) reported that lack of riboflavin during lactation can lead to a significant reduction in feed intake and weight loss.…”

“…The difference can be attributed to stress induced by weaning. When rats lack riboflavin for 5 weeks during weaning period, the morphology and cell dynamics of the duodenum exhibit irreversible effects (Williams et al, 1996a;1996b;Yates et al, 2003).…”

“…In severe cases, the feet are bent and stiff, and the skin is rough and thick, resulting in slow growth of pigs (Miller & Ellis, 1951;Terrill et al, 1955). Previous studies on rats report that lack of riboflavin in the diet during the weaning period significantly affects physiological development of the small intestine, by inhibiting normal increase in the number of villus (Williams et al, 1996a;Yates et al, 2003).…”

B Vitamins and Their Roles in Gut Health

“…Interestingly, riboflavin is also required for the postnatal development of the gastrointestinal tract. Its deficiency was associated with crypt hypertrophy, interruptions in crypt bifurcation in rats [37,38], and loss of proliferative potentials in intestinal cells [39]. These changes were seen in the postnatal and post-weaning stages [38].…”