BIOCHEMICAL BASIS FOR RIBOFLAVIN DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH USE OF ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVES - STUDY IN FEMALE RATS

Administration of 1/10 tablet of the oral contraceptive pill, Ovulen-50 (ethinodiol diacetate 1 mg, ethinyl estradiol 50 .mu.g) to adult female rats resulted in a significant decrease in urinary and blood riboflavin but increase in hepatic riboflavin and FAD. Of the flavin enzymes in the liver, glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) and D-amino acid oxidase (EC .1.4.3.3) showed a significant increase, whereas NADH dehydrogenase (EC 1.6.99.3) tended to fall. Xanthine oxidase (EC 1.2.3.2) and pyridoxamine phosphate oxidase (EC 1.4.3.5) showed no change. Erythrocyte gluthathione reductase did not change.