Vitamin B2 Riboflavin Deficiency and Toxicity

There are a few vitamins which are difficult for some people to get enough of in their diet. There are very few cases of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency among those people who eat a well balanced recommended diet. The problem is that very few people actually eat a “standard” diet. For this reason there are a few groups of people who have a very difficult time getting sufficient Vitamin B2 Riboflavin in their diet.

Vegetarians

People who abstain from animal meats and animal products have a difficult time getting enough Vitamin B2 Riboflavin in their daily diet. There are many vegetables which are very rich in Vitamin B2 Riboflavin; however, many of these vegetables are eaten enough in a healthy vegetarian diet. Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is most prominent in green vegetables (such as asparagus and broccoli). While these vegetables items do contain higher amounts of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin, compared to other vegetables sources, they do not contain the same amounts as higher animal product items. Animal sources like cow milk (and other dairy products), eggs, meats, and liver all contain substantially more Vitamin B2 Riboflavin than vegetable sources.

Alcoholics

The simple fact remains that people who are heavy drinkers or those who are alcoholics are much more likely to have all kinds of vitamin deficiencies compared to those who don’t drink any type of alcohol. Still those people who are alcoholics are very likely to be suffering from a Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency.

Alcoholics normally don’t eat a well rounded diet of healthy meats, fruits, and vegetables. The majority of their calories come from alcoholic sugar, and that will once again lead to vitamin deficiency. Studies have shown people with Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency are more likely to have depression. Mixed with extensive alcohol use, people with Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency are much more likely to have alcohol depression and other harmful mental disorders. Studies have shown that the taking of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin has shown some improvement in cases of people who suffer from alcoholic depression.

Fad Dieters

Again those people who eat a recommended balanced diet have a much lower chance of having any type of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency; however, those people who engage in fad diets are not eating the recommended quantities of vitamins and minerals which the body requires to function correctly. The rise of popular fad diets has actually increased the number of vitamin deficiencies reported in the developed world.

Fad diets are normally constructed to limit where a person is getting their daily calories. The limitation of food sources will limit the amount of vitamin and minerals which are coming into a person’s daily diet. This means that if a person is seriously committed to a fad diet, then they are also seriously committed to not consuming the proper vitamins which their body needs. Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency is very common among those people who eat a raw vegetarian diet, and also among people who go on some form of a liquid diet.

Symptoms of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin Deficiency

Common signs of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency include: cracked and red lips, inflammation of the lining of the mouth and tongue, mouth ulcers, cracks at the corners of the mouth, and a sore throat. Other symptoms which may accompany Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency are: dry and scaling skin, fluid in the mucous membranes, iron-deficiency anemia, and eye irritation (this can include bloodshot eyes, itchy eyes, watery eyes, and hypersensitivity to bright light).

Long term Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency can lead to oral-ocular-genital syndrome, photophobia, scrotal dermatitis, and angular cheilitis.

In the developed countries of the world there are very few people who actually have Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency. Yet, there are a growing number of people, an estimated 28 million in the United States, who are suffering from a subclinical stage of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency. This subclinical level of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency has been found to mainly target women taking contraceptives, the elderly, people with chronic diseases, diabetes suffers, individuals with chronic heart disease, and many with eating disorders. This subclinical level of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency can also be very harmful to children and teenagers. One of the common side effects of subclinical Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency is a reduction of a person’s growth. The extent of the growth stunting nature of subclinical Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency is still largely unknown, because subclinical Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency does not manifest itself readily to clinical testing.

Toxicity of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin

It is very difficult for a person to orally take enough Vitamin B2 Riboflavin to a toxic level. Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin. This means the body has a difficult time storing Vitamin B2 Riboflavin in the body like a fat-soluble vitamin (Vitamin A for example). The body actually passes most of the Vitamin B2 Riboflavin through the urinary tract, which actually leads to many people suffering from Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency or subclinical Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency.

There are ways people can take too much Vitamin B2 Riboflavin orally, but toxicity of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin normally occurs when people take Vitamin B2 Riboflavin intravenously. Taking shots containing high amounts of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin will actually be difficult for the body to process, and that will lead to a higher chance of possible Vitamin B2 Riboflavin toxicity.

Preventions of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin Deficiency

The best way to prevent a Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency is to take a good daily multivitamin. This is especially recommended for those people whom are at a higher risk of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency because of lifestyle dieting choices. Finding a good daily multivitamin is important, and it is also important to find a daily multivitamin which is gender specific. The amount of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin the body needs varies depending on a person’s gender (men usually require more than women). For women the amounts they need also depends on whether they are pregnant or nursing. A vitamin deficiency for a nursing mother is especially dangerous for a child.

Eating a healthy diet and supplementing a diet with a good daily multivitamin will help prevent possible Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency.