Milk, cellular equilibrium and nutritional evolution.

In the diet of North American women, milk is by far the main source of Vitamin B2. The relationship of habitual dietary milk intake to riboflavin nutritional status in pregnancy is examined. The blood riboflavin values of 22 mothers, who by dietary history, took at least 1 glass of milk a day is compared with those of 12 with aversion. In the latter group, blood values of 8 mothers were suboptimum and 3 were deficient with angular stomatitis. In the former group, 2 were suboptimum and none were deficient. The blood riboflavin values of mothers and their prenates corresponded. Habitual diet poor in milk is a factor which may predispose North American women to Vitamin B2 deficiency in pregnancy. The concepts of cellular equilibrium and nutritional evolution are discussed.