Effect of riboflavin and folic acid supplementation on some haematopoietic parameters in the rat.

The effect of riboflavin and folic acid supplementation on selected haematopoietic parameters in young rats fed diets deficient in the two vitamins was studied. Haemoglobin concentration as well as haematocrit value and red blood cell count were highest in rats which received the full dosage of both riboflavin and folic acid. Supplementation of folic acid alone gave lower values than both vitamins, however administration of only a fifth of the full dosage of riboflavin to rats receiving folic acid improved the haemoglobin values significantly. It is suggested that the observed effect my be partly due to the effect of riboflavin on folic acid metabolism.