Deficiency symptoms
Often a factor in alcoholism, drug addiction, hypoglycaemia, diabetes, cataract and glaucoma, cornea wound, low thyroid activity, medicinal poisoning and pollution, high age and senility.
Clinical signs include magenta tongue, cracked lips and corners of the mouth, insomnia, hypersensitivity to light, vertigo, quivering and Parkinsonism, mental debilitation, injuries to watering eyes, bloodshot eyes, oily skin which flakes off and reveals swollen superficial blood vessels and oil glands, hair loss, and impetigo.
Degeneration of nervous tissue, fatty liver, and irregular heart rhythm are also seen. The need for this vitamin is increased during pregnancy, nursing, and chronic infections. In case of deficiency, severe personality disorders have been observed. Vitamin B2 deficiency is correlated with alcoholism, diabetes, cancer, glaucoma, low thyroid function, age, and environmental toxins.
RDA: 1.6 mg.
Therepeutic dosage
As a general supplement: 10 mg. daily. In case of severe deficiency up to 5 g. daily. Riboflavin does not have a poisonous effect even in extreme doses. Riboflavin poisoning has never been reported. The vitamin itself has a clear, yellow, fluorescent colour.
With the intake of large quantities of any food supplement containing riboflavin, the vitamin will colour the urine. This reaction is completely harmless, but often frightens the patients. In the body, riboflavin is transformed into the two coenzymes flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenindinucleotide (FAD).
The vitamin is very heat resistant, but it is vulnerable to light by which it is decomposed under the formation of free radicals.
Riboflavin against blood poisoning
In a study, Japanese scientists have established that vitamin B2 counteracts inflammation and increases the body's resistance.
In the study, a number of mice were infected with coli bacteria. In the group of mice that received no treatment, 90% died whereas 95% of the mice who were given an injection with purified vitamin B2 were still alive after a week.
In blood poisoning, the bacteria and the waste products they produce are spread with the blood. This is a very serious disease that could lead to organ failure and ultimately death if left untreated.
Vitamin B2 has also been used for cancer, alcoholism, alcohol-related liver injuries, psoriasis, and chemical and medicinal environmental poisoning. The effect of riboflavin against obesity and cancer is currently being investigated.
Richest natural sources
Brewer's yeast, milk and dairy products, liver, tongue, organ meat, and eggs.
