VITAMINS: Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin)

Overview of Vitamins | Vitamin A (and Beta Carotene) | Biotin (Vitamin H) | Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin) | Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) | Vitamin B-3 (Niacin or Nicotinic Acid) | Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid) | Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine) | Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin) | Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) | Vitamin D | Vitamin E | Folate (Folic Acid) | Inositol | Choline

Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin)

Functions of Vitamin B-2

• Is Necessary for carbohydrate, fat & protein metabolism.
• Aids in the formation of antibodies and red blood cells.
• Maintains cell respiration.
• Necessary for the maintenance of good vision, skin, nails & hair.
• Alleviates eye fatigue.
• Promotes general health.

Deficiency of Vitamin B-2

• Weakness.
• Sore throat, hyperemia and edema of the pharyngeal and oral mucous membranes, cheilosis, angular stomatitis, glossitis.
• Seborrheic dermatitis, corneal vascularization.
• Normochromic, normocytic anemia associated with pure red cell hypoplasia of the bone marrow.

Clinical uses Vitamin B-2

• Treatment of Vitamin B-6 deficiency resulting from diverse causes such as inadequate dietary intake, decreased assimilation, rare genetic defects in the formation of specific flavoproteins, hormonal disorders and after use of certain drugs.
• Riboflavin supplements are provided during treatment of neonatal jaundice with phototherapy.

Recommended dietary allowance for Vitamin B-2

See Recommended dietary allowances for vitamins.

Food sources of Vitamin B-2

Especially good sources are milk, eggs, enriched cereals and grains, ice cream, liver, some lean meats, and green vegetables such as broccoli.

Toxicity of Vitamin B-2

The limited capacity to absorb orally administered riboflavin precludes its potential for harm. Riboflavin intake of many times the RDA is without demonstrable toxicity. Nevertheless, the photosensitizing properties of riboflavin raise the possibility of some theoretical, potential risks.

References

• McCormick, D. B. (1999) Riboflavin. In: Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease (Shils, M. E., Olson, J. A., Shike, M. & Ross, A. C., eds.), 9th ed., pp. 391-400. Lea & Febiger, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD.
• Yagi, K., ed. (1994) Flavins and Flavoproteins. Walter de Gruyter, New York, NY.
• Rivlin, R. S. (1996) Riboflavin. In: Present Knowledge in Nutrition (Ziegler, E.K. & Filer, L.J., eds.), 7th ed., pp. 167-173. International Life Sciences Institute Press, Washington, DC.



Overview of Vitamins | Vitamin A (and Beta Carotene) | Biotin (Vitamin H) | Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin) | Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) | Vitamin B-3 (Niacin or Nicotinic Acid) | Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid) | Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine) | Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin) | Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) | Vitamin D | Vitamin E | Folate (Folic Acid) | Inositol | Choline