Riboflavin, folate and vitamin C status of Gambian women during pregnancy: a comparison between urban and rural communities

Anthropometric, haematological and vitamin status indices were measured in a group of pregnant women living in the urban community of Bakau in The Gambia, West Africa. Their haematological and anthropometric indices were generally within normal limits. Vitamin C status was also acceptable and was similar to values observed in rural Gambian women sampled at the same time of year. Folate status was similar to that seen previously in rural Gambian communities, and there was a strong intrasubject correlation between plasma and red cell folate levels, together with a trend towards higher values as pregnancy progressed. This was consistent with probable compliance with local recommendations for folate supplementation during pregnancy. The urban Gambian women also resembled their rural counterparts in having very poor biochemical riboflavin status, which deteriorated as pregnancy progressed. In this respect they differed markedly from UK women, who had satisfactory riboflavin status even in late pregnancy. The existence of severe biochemical riboflavin deficiency, even in urban Gambian women, whose anthropometric indices are not compatible with severe general malnutrition, suggests that a deficiency of this vitamin may be widespread in Sahelian West Africa. Measures to improve maternal vitamin status during pregnancy would therefore be equally appropriate in both rural and urban communities.