Vitamins are essential for growth and normal body functions. Vitamin B2 or riboflavin is second member of the B-complex group. It is a water soluble vitamin, a crystalline compound with a yellow -orange hue. Sun drying of foods destroys most of the riboflavin content of the food as it is sensitive to ultraviolet sunlight.
Riboflavin is absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine. It is carried to the tissues of the body and incorporated into the cell enzymes. The liver is the major site of storage and it contains about one-third of the total riboflavin in the body.
Symptoms Of Riboflavin Or Vitamin B2 Deficiency
Symptoms of vitamin B2 deficiency include:
- Inflammation in the mouth.
- Sore and burning tongue. Bald tongue.
- Dry chapped lips and superficial ulcers on the lips.
- Cracks in the corners of the mouth.
- Premature wrinkles on face and skin.
- Split nails.
- Anemia.
- Itching in vaginal area.
- Early cataract.
- Burning eyes and visual fatigue.
- Decreased handgrip strength in children.
- Red eyes.
- Peripheral neuropathy.
Vitamin B2 Deficiency Diseases
Diseases associated with deficiency of Riboflavin are:
- Amblyopia.
- Glossitis.
- Tongue inflammation.
- Corneal vascularization.
- Angular stomatitis.
- Seborrhea dermatitis.
- Stomatitis.
Causes Of Vitamin B2 Deficiency
Causes of riboflavin deficiency include diseases such as tuberculosis, prolonged fevers, HIV, malabsorption, cancer, and hyperthyroidism can precipitate riboflavin deficiency. Sub clinical deficiency is also observed in women taking oral contraceptives, elderly individuals and diabetics.
Riboflavin Deficiency Treatment
- Treating the underlying cause.
- Intake of food containing riboflavin such as cereals, pulses and legumes, vegetables such as lettuce, carrot leaves, radish leaves, beet greens, spinach.
- Include fish, meat and eggs in your daily diet.
- Also eat papaya, pineapples, custard apples, jack fruit and nuts and beans.
1. Foods containing rich sources of riboflavin or vitamin B2 are:
a. Green leafy vegetable like carrot leaves, radish leaves, spinach.
b. Animal sources are liver and eggs.
c. Fruits like papaya, custard apple.
2. Riboflavin 5 phosphate is produced by riboflavin molecule which is present in many children foods , milk etc.
3. Some of the symptoms of riboflavin deficiency are
a. Oro lingual: Mouth sores
b. Dermal: Seborrhoeic Dermatitis of face
c. Ocular Manifestation: Burning and visual fatigue
d. Neurological Manifestation: Peripheral neuropathy.