Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

General Characteristics of Vitamins

• Synthesized by all
plants and
microorganisms but
not higher organisms
• Found as free, FMN
or FAD
• Ribose+flavous
Vitamin B2 - riboflavin
Flavin adenine
Riboflavin dinucleotide
(FAD)
Before it’s
phosphorylated

Riboflavin
phosphate (flavin
mononucleotide,
FMN)
 Chemical properties
• A yellow compound.

• Riboflavin and its coenzymes are sensitive to

alkali and to acid (acid-base balance).

• Riboflavin and its derivatives are sensitive to

UV light, resulting in rapid inactivation.

• Therefore, phototherapy of neonatal jaundice

may promote systemic riboflavin deficiency.
 Digestion
Digestion
Riboflavin in bound form:
• Attached to proteins or
• As FAD, FMN & riboflavin phosphate
• Can also be found in a free form
Must be freed prior to absorption
• Proteins are freed by HCL (animal) in
the stomach and gastric and intestinal
(plant) enzymes (riboflavin
phosphatases)
• FAD FMN free Riboflavin
by phosphatases
 Absorption

• Absorption (animal sources are better absorbed)

• Absorbed by energy-dependent carrier mechanism
in jejunum(within the intestinal cell)
• Approximately 95% of riboflavin intake from food
is absorbed (up to 25mg)
• Riboflavin is phosphorylated (enterocyte) to FMN
& if any unused it is then dephosphorylated back to
riboflavin before transport (albumin) blood, the
converted back to FMN and FAD in liver.
 Transport & Storage
Transport
• Riboflavin transported to liver for conversion to FMN
& FAD by flavokinase and FAD synthase (both req.
ATP)
• Most flavins in systemic plasma are riboflavin
• Albumin: primary transport protein

Storage
• Liver, kidney, heart
• Brain has small amount, but more resistant to change
• Reserves are sufficient for 2-6 weeks
 Main Functions of Riboflavin

Facilitation of the release of energy

from carbohydrates, protein, and fat
• Krebs cycle activity
• Electron transfer mechanisms

Accepts electrons in biochemical

reactions
 Main Functions of Riboflavin
• Vitamin B6 metabolism
• Oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate
• Succinate dehydrogenase
• Fatty acid -oxidation
• Synthesis of folate as 5-methyl THF
• Synthesis of niacin from tryptophan
• Glutathione, thioredoxin, ribonucleotide
reductases
• Some neurotransmitters
Kreb’s cycle
 ETC
Function: Oxidative phosphorylation

(respiratory complex II).

Function: Electron transfer by FAD
 Excretion

• Excreted primarily in urine (turns

urine bright orange-yellow color)
• Small amount in feces
 Recommended Intakes
• Recommended Daily Allowance
• Men: 1.3 mg
• Women 1.1 mg
 Assessment of nutriture

• Measure activity of erythrocyte

glutathione reductase
• Urinary excretion rate
 Sources

• Milk/dairy
• Eggs
• Meat, legumes
• Most in liver
• soybeans
Sources of Riboflavin (B2)
 Deficiency
• Clinical symptoms of deficiency:
• Angular Stomatitis
• Cheilosis
• Glossitis
• Edema of the mouth
• Redness (hyperemia)
• Vascularization of the cornea
• Dermatitis
• Anemia(affects RBC formation)
• Peripheral neuropathy
 Interaction
• B2 alters iron metabolism
• Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn can block absorption
of riboflavin
 Toxicity
• None reported; no UL
• 400 mg found to be effective in treating migranes
without any side effects