Vitamin B2 Riboflavin
TopForm products that contain Vitamin B2 Riboflavin| Name | Amount Per Serving | Daily Value % |
| Whey Protein | ? | 41% |
| Men's Multivitamin | 5.1mg | 300% |
| Women's Multivitamin | 5.1mg | 300% |
| Prenatal Chocolate | 1mg | 59% |
| Meal Replacement | ? | 35% |
| Super Antioxidant | 2mg | 118% |
Basic Function of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is a part of the Vitamin B complex. Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin, which means it is more difficult for the body to maintain high levels of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin in the body. The majority of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is passed through the body and out the urinary tract.
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is involved in vital metabolic processes. It is necessary for the healthy development of human cells, cell functions, and also the energy which cells are able to produce. Small amounts of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin are present in most every plant and animal on the planet.
One of the primary reasons why people should monitor the amount of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin in their diet is because of the role it plays in the human growth. Studies have linked Vitamin B2 Riboflavin to being one of the important vitamins in the human body during growth periods. Studies have also shown that people suffering from Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency and subclinical Vitamin B2 Riboflavin will have a higher risk of stunting their growth. Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is essential for any child or adolescent to have the proper amount in their daily healthy diet.
History
In the distant past, scientists considered that Vitamin B was broken into only two parts. A heat-liable part (Vitamin B1), and a heat-stable part (Vitamin B2). In 1923 Paul Gyorgi, in Heidelburg, was experimenting with egg white injuries occurring in rats. He decided to test Vitamin B2 on the rats. In 1933, he enlisted the services of Wagner-Jauregg in Kuhn’s laboratory. This led to the discovery of Ovoflavin, and to the synthesized Vitamin B2 Riboflavin by Kuhn’s laboratory in 1934.
Sources of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is required in a variety of cellular processes, which means that most animals also require Vitamin B2 Riboflavin to survive. This means there is a wide variety of sources for healthy consumption of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin.
Here are a few sources rich in Vitamin B2 Riboflavin: milk, cheese, leafy green vegetables, liver, kidneys, legumes such as mature soybeans, yeast, mushrooms, almonds, dark green vegetables (broccoli and asparagus are both good examples), eggs, meats, and enriched cereals/grains.
The sources of animal proteins are much higher and easier for the body to use compared to the sources of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin from non-animal sources. For this reason there is a growing number of people who are vegetarians suffering from Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency and subclinical Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency.
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is very sensitive to light. This means food items which are exposed to excessive amounts of light can actually destroy the Vitamin B2 Riboflavin in the foods. This is especially true for milk. This is one of the major reasons it is not recommended to keep milk in see through containers which will expose the milk to light. It is also one of the reason fruits and vegetables are recommended to be stored in dark dry areas.
Fortification of Foods with Vitamin B2 Riboflavin
The milling of cereals and other staple foods for human consumption removes a considerable amount of the Vitamin B2 Riboflavin contained in the foods. The milling of cereals will remove up to 60% of the Vitamin B2 Riboflavin in them. These cereals are some of the world’s major sources of food—especially in developing nations. For this reason many of the milled food products are enriched with Vitamin B2 Riboflavin. White flour is one of the major products which are enriched with Vitamin B2 Riboflavin. Polished rice is one of the food products which are not enriched with Vitamin B2 Riboflavin. The reasoning being that the enrichment of foods with Vitamin B2 Riboflavin leaves a yellow color on the foods. This yellow color on rice isn’t visually appealing to the rice eating populations of the world.
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is also used as a food coloring agent. It is also used for the enrichment of the following foods: baby foods, breakfast cereals, pastas, sauces, processed cheese, fruit drinks, vitamin-enriched milk products, and some energy drinks.
Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin
The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin was raised in 1998 in order to combat the growing number of people suffering from Vitamin B2 Riboflavin deficiency around the world. The RDA for adults (by mouth) according to the Mayo Clinic is 1 milligram for adolescents (14-18 years old); 1.3 milligrams for male adolescents (14-18 years old); 1.1 milligrams for female adults (older than 18 years); 1.3 milligrams for male adults (older than 18 years); 1.4 milligrams for pregnant women (any age); and 1.6 milligrams for breastfeeding women (any age).
The U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for infants and children (by mouth) is 0.3 milligram for 0-6 months old; 0.4 milligram for 7-12 months old; 0.5 milligram for 1-3 years old; 0.6 milligram for 4-8 years old; 0.9 milligram for 9-13 years old; 1 milligram for female adolescents (14-18 years old); and 1.3 milligrams for male adolescents (14-18 years old).
Best Way to Get Enough Vitamin B2 Riboflavin
The safest and best way to raise the amount of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin in any diet is by taking a good daily multivitamin. A good daily multivitamin, preferably a multivitamin which is gender specific, will allow a person to get the appropriate amount of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin daily. Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is water-soluble, which means if a person is drinking excessive amounts of water the body will have a difficult time retaining vitamins. A good daily multivitamin will lead to more consistent vitamin levels in the body.
Click to see known causes of Vitamin B2 Riboflavin Deficiency.
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