Riboflavin

General Information:

• Involved in the process of creating the body's flavoprotein which is essential to cellular respiration. The riboflavin, when ingested is converted to flavin mono/dinucleotide (FMN/FAD) and is involved in the regulation of cellualr sodium/potassium exchange. This helps to assimulate carbs, fats, and proteins as well as iron. It is an essential vitamin and must be resupplied to the body on a daily basis, although some is stored in the heart, liver and kidneys. It is best taken with the other vitamins of the B complex.
  
• Present in lima beans, green beans, broccoli and many other green vegetables, in dried apricots, blueberries, mangoes, dried prunes, tangerines, peanuts, in beef, beef heart, and beef kidney, in rye and wheat germ, and in dairy products.
  
• aka is vitamin B-2, sometimes called the yellow vitamin or the antidermatitis vitamin.
  
• Destroyed in the body by alkalies and ultraviolet light. Milk now comes in a container which does not allow light in for this reason; however, in general most of the B-2 breaks down anyway when the milk is irradiated with vitamin D.
  
• Requirements are 1.5 - 1.7 mg per day, slightly more for lactating and pregnant women.
  
  
• Deficiency is most commonly observed by cracks and sores that form in the corners of the mouth, or a sharkshkin-look around the nose and eyes. Sometimes the tongue swells, and occasionally pimples break out all over the skin. The eyes generally appear dry and bloodshot and occasionally mucous will form on the eyelashes. Deficiencies are associated with hypoglycemia
  

ŠJamie Longstreet 1996-2004