What is riboflavin?
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Stacy Wiegman answered:Riboflavin is another name for vitamin B2. This vitamin is naturally present in many foods. Taking extra riboflavin can help with neonatal jaundice and riboflavin deficiency, otherwise known as ariboflavinosis. Several other medical problems, including migraine headaches and depression, have shown some positive though not conclusive results with using riboflavin as treatment. If your doctor thinks you would benefit from taking riboflavin, they might recommend you eat more foods that contain riboflavin or take an additional supplement. Riboflavin is generally safe and has very few side effects.
Riboflavin is another name for vitamin B2. This vitamin is naturally present in many foods. Taking extra riboflavin can help with neonatal jaundice and riboflavin deficiency, otherwise known as ariboflavinosis. Several other medical problems,... More -
Healthwise answered:Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is a vitamin in the vitamin B complex. It is needed to help break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to be used by the body.
Common sources of riboflavin include:
- Meats (especially liver and kidney) and fish.
- Milk, cheese, and eggs.
- Green leafy vegetables.
- Whole grains and legumes.
The recommended dietary requirement (RDA) for riboflavin is1.3 mgfor adult men and1.1 mgfor adult women. Women who are pregnant need 1.4 mg a day, and women who are breast-feeding need 1.6 mg a day.
Insufficient riboflavin in the diet (which is very uncommon) can lead to health problems, including skin and vaginal itching, trembling, sluggishness, dizziness, and clouding of the lens of the eye (cataract).
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is a vitamin in the vitamin B complex. It is needed to help break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to be used by the body. Common sources of riboflavin include: Meats (especially liver and kidney) and fish. Milk,... More -
Riboflavin is a water-soluble B vitamin involved in vital metabolic processes in the body. It is necessary for normal cell function, growth, and energy production. Small amounts of riboflavin are present in most animal and plant tissues. The most common forms of riboflavin available in supplements are riboflavin and riboflavin 5'-monophosphate. Riboflavin is most commonly found in multivitamin and vitamin B-complex preparations.
Healthy individuals who eat a balanced diet rarely need riboflavin supplements. Especially good dietary sources of riboflavin are milk (and other dairy products), eggs, enriched cereals/grains, meats, liver, and green vegetables, such as asparagus or broccoli. Intake may be lower in vegans than in non-vegetarians or lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Deficiencies can occur in certain parts of the world due to seasonal changes in dietary intakes. Other groups susceptible to riboflavin deficiency include the elderly, those with chronic illness, the poor, and alcoholics.
Although riboflavin is an essential nutrient with a potential for deficiency in some populations, there is recent concern about high intakes of riboflavin (for example, in patients using hundreds of milligrams for migraine prevention). These levels should be used only under the supervision of a health care provider. Unused excess riboflavin is eliminated in the urine, giving it a yellow-green color.
You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Riboflavin is a water-soluble B vitamin involved in vital metabolic processes in the body. It is necessary for normal cell function, growth, and energy production. Small amounts of riboflavin are present in most animal and plant tissues. The most... More
