Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is a vitamin found in food and sold as a dietary supplement.[3] It is essential to the formation of two major coenzymes, flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide. These coenzymes are involved in energy metabolism, cellular respiration, and antibody production, as well as normal growth and development. The coenzymes are also required for the metabolism of niacin, vitamin B6, and folate. Riboflavin is prescribed to treat corneal thinning, and taken orally, may reduce the incidence of migraine headaches in adults.
Riboflavin deficiency is rare and is usually accompanied by deficiencies of other vitamins and nutrients. It may be prevented or treated by oral supplements or by injections. As a water-soluble vitamin, any riboflavin consumed in excess of nutritional requirements is not stored; it is either not absorbed or is absorbed and quickly excreted in urine, causing the urine to have a bright yellow tint. Natural sources of riboflavin include meat, fish and fowl, eggs, dairy products, green vegetables, mushrooms, and almonds. Some countries require its addition to grains.
Riboflavin was discovered in 1920, isolated in 1933, and first synthesized in 1935. In its purified, solid form, it is a water-soluble yellow-orange crystalline powder. In addition to its function as a vitamin, it is used as a food coloring agent. Biosynthesis takes place in bacteria, fungi and plants, but not animals. Industrial synthesis of riboflavin was initially achieved using a chemical process, but current commercial manufacturing relies on fermentation methods using strains of fungi and genetically modified bacteria.
2. Introduction
Riboflavin was first isolated by Blyth in 1872 from
whey, and is water soluble, yellow, fluorescent
material.
According to IUPAC rules,riboflavin is called 7,8-
dimethyl-10-(d-1’-ribityl)isoalloxazine .It is also
called lactoflavin.
Formula: C17H20N4O6
Molar mass: 376.36 g/mol
It emits yellow fluorescence.
Visually, it imparts color to vitamin supplements.
3. Structure
Riboflavin consists of flavin (isoalloxazine ring), to
which is attached a ribitol (sugar alcohol) side chain.
The structures of riboflavin was determined in 1933.
The name riboflavin signifies the presence of a
ribose like side chain and its yellow color (flavus
means “yellow” in Latin).
4. COENZYME FORMS
Riboflavin has two coenzymes. Both are nucleotides and
integral part of enzymes. Such enzymes are called
flavoproteins.
1. Flavin mononucleotide(FMN)=Flavin-ribityl-
phosphate(phosphate group attached to ribityl alcoholic
group at position 5).
2. Flavin Adenine dinucleotide(FAD)=Flavin-ribityl-phosphate-
phosphate-ribose-adenine
In FAD, adenine nucleotide is attached to FMN by
pyrophosphate linkage.
FAD is converted to form various tissue flavoproteins (mainly
complexed with flavoprotein dehydrogenases and oxidases)
and thus it is the predominant flavoenzyme present in tissue.
These coenzymes participate in many essential enzyme-
5. Structure of riboflavin and its
coenzyme
Riboflavin
Flavin mononucleotide
(FMN) (coenzyme)
Flavin adenine
dinucleotide (FAD)
(coenzyme).
6. Food sources
Riboflavin is found in a wide variety of foods, especially animal
origin.
Milk and milk products such as cheeses are thought to contribute
most dietary riboflavin.
Eggs, meat, and nuts(almonds) also provide riboflavin in significant
quantities.
Green vegetables like spinach , broccoli, asparagus provide fairly
good riboflavin content.
Fruits and cereal grains are minor contributors of dietary riboflavin.
The form of riboflavin in food varies. Free or proteinbound riboflavin
is found in milk, eggs, and enriched breads and cereals.
In most other foods this vitamin occurs as one or the other of its
coenzyme derivatives, FMN or FAD, although phosphorus-bound
7. RDA(Recommended dietary
allowance)
According to Oregon State University, the (RDA) of
vitamin B2
For men aged 19 years and over is 1.3 milligrams
per day
For women, it is 1.1 milligram per day.
During pregnancy, women should have 1.4
milligrams per day, and when breastfeeding, 1.6
milligrams per day.
9. Functions
Metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Normal growth and development.
Improves eye vision, reduces eye fatigue, prevents
cataracts.
Repairs and maintain healthy hair,skin,nails.
Higher doses( roughly 200-400 times the RDA) can
reduce both attack frequency and number of days
with migrane. Not severity.
Required for activation/support of vitamin
b6,folate,niacin,vitamin k.
Helps in red blood cell production.
10. Riboflavin is present in foods mostly (80–90%) as
FAD and FMN cofactors of proteins.
ABSORPTION-
1. Riboflavin is present in food as FAD,FMN and
free riboflavin.
2. FMN and FAD are hydrolysed to free form in upper
small intestine.
3. Free form is absorbed by intestinal mucosal cells
by sodium dependent transport system.
TRANSPORT-
1. In intestinal mucosal cells riboflavin is converted
into FMN by the action of flavokinase in presence
of ATP.
2. FMN enters the portal circulation.
11. In the plasma it is transported as Albumin-FMN
complex.
FMN complex enter the tissues including liver.
In the tissues it is converted into FAD.
STORAGE-
1. Riboflavin is mainly stored in liver.
2. It is stored as FMN and FAD.
EXCRETION-
1. Mainly excreted in urine.
12. DEFICIENCY OF RIBOFLAVIN:
ARIBOFLAVINOSIS
Rarely occurs in isolation but most often is
accompanied by other nutrient deficits.
Clinical symptoms of deficiency after almost 4
months of inadequate intake include lesions on
the outside of the lips (cheilosis) and corners of
the mouth (angular stomatitis), inflammation of
the tongue (glossitis), and swollen (edema)
mouth/oral cavity, an inflammatory skin condition
seborrheic dermatitis, anemia and eye disorders
like corneal vascularization.
Severe deficiency of riboflavin may diminish the
synthesis of the coenzyme form of vitamin B6
and the synthesis of niacin (NAD) from
tryptophan.
13. Toxicity
Toxicity associated with large oral doses of
riboflavin has not been reported, and no tolerable
upper intake level for riboflavin has been
established.
Trials have shown use of large amounts of this
vitamin would be effective in treating migraine
headaches without side effects.
High-dose riboflavin therapy has been found to
intensify urine color to a bright yellow (flavinuria),
but this is a harmless side effect.
However, Studies in cell culture indicate that
excess riboflavin may increase the risk
14. Stabilit
y
Ultraviolet and visible light can rapidly inactivate riboflavin
and its derivatives.
Because of this sensitivity, lengthy light therapy to treat
jaundice in newborns or skin disorders can lead to
riboflavin deficiency.
The risk of riboflavin loss from exposure to light is the