Vitamins: Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin

Question 1

Vitamin B2 – Riboflavin- appearance?

Answer 1

 B2 is a fluorescent green/yellow compound – supplements over 27 mg (maximum absorbed amount) will colour urine bright yellow

Question 2

Food prep

Answer 2

Riboflavin is very sensitive to light, and content is also reduced by heating/boiling, freezing and leaching into cooking water (yellows the water)

Question 3

Food sources

Answer 3

 Yeast extract
 Spinach
 Wild salmon
 Mushrooms
 Almonds
 Quinoa
 Lentils
 Kidney beans
 Organic eggs
 Meat

Question 4

Energy (ATP) Production: function and therapeutic uses

Answer 4

 Functions:
o Metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins
o For Krebs cycle and beta-oxidation
o B-2 is a constituent of two key energy carriers: FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide) and FMN (flavin mononucleotide)

 Therapeutic uses:
o Fatigue
o Migraines (400 mg / day)
o Stress (multiple B vitamins are depleted during times of stress)

Question 5

Liver detoxification: function and therapeutic uses

Answer 5

 Functions:
o Detoxification via CYP450 Enzymes (Phase 1 liver detoxification system)
o Re-generation of glutathione
 Therapeutic uses:
o Liver detox programs

Question 6

Iron metabolism: function and therapeutic uses

Answer 6

 Functions:
o B2 is required for iron metabolism
 Therapeutic uses:
o Anaemia

Question 7

Absorption:
Maximum absorption?
What helps optimise?
Waht impairs?

Answer 7

 Maximum absorption from a single doses is 27 mg
 Bile salts help intestinal absorption
 Antacids and alcohol impaired absorption

Question 8

Impairement of Bio availability

Answer 8

• Bio availability is impaired by:
• Copper
• Zinc
• Caffeine
• Theophylline (In chocolate)
• Saccharin

Question 9

Dosage:
Recommended?
Whatcan reduce levels / increase demand?

Answer 9

• Doses between 90 - 400 mg per day (Split through the day)
• Smoking can reduce levels in the body.
• B2 demands are increased with heavy exercise, pregnancy and ageing
• Do not exceed daily recommendations in pregnancy and lactation

Question 10

Toxicity

Answer 10

• Generally considered non-toxic

Question 11

Deficiency?
Why / what does the body do?
What is it likely to occur with?

Answer 11

• Depletion is common but deficiency is rare.
• More likely to occur in combination with other water-soluble vitamin deficiencies
• There is extremely efficient reutilisation of riboflavin in deficiency

Question 12

Signs and symptoms of poor intake

Answer 12

• Sores at the margins of the lips/mouth corners
• Red, dry, atrophic tongue
• Scaly dermatitis (especially around the mouth, nose, eyes and ears) and red, tired and gritty eyes
• Fatigue, weakness, poor concentration, depression
• Deficiency (although rare) can also cause alopecia

Question 13

B2 riboflavin functions

Answer 13

Energy (ATP) production
Liver detoxification
Iron metabolism