Embryo riboflavin deficiency

White HB 3rd (1996) Sudden death of chicken embryos with hereditary riboflavin deficiency. Journal of Nutrition 126,1303S-7S. 

Within recent years striking changes have been found in embryos born from riboflavin-deficient mothers. Shortening of the mandible and of all the bones of the fingers and toes have been described. In severe deficiency there... 

Giroud and co-workers found that abortion was frequent in riboflavin deficiency and that monsters often were born (Giroud ). Lepkovsky et had previously showed that riboflavin deficiency in the chick embryo produced a degeneration of the mesonephros and the development of edema and anemia. 

In animals, riboflavin deficiency during pregnancy has resulted in striking abnormalities in the embryo and, at times, in abortion. Whether congenital defects in man are ever related to an inadequate maternal supply of riboflavin is unknown. 

In non-ruminants, deficiencies of the B vitamins riboflavin and folic acid have been shown to reduce embryo survival. 

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