Riboflavin

Absorption

Vitamin B2 is readily absorbed from the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Description

Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is an enzyme cofactor in many flavoprotein enzyme reactions, notably the activation of other vitamins. It is widely present in nature, found in dairy products, eggs, organ tissues, and leafy vegetables, with yeast and its extracts being the richest natural source. Riboflavin was first synthesized in Germany and Austria in the 1930s by chemists H. Meerwein, R. Kuhn, and their colleagues. Initially, it was chemically manufactured for use as a nutritional supplement, primarily from o-xylene, D-ribose, and alloxan. Today, it is biosynthesized using fermenting organisms such as the fungus Ashbya gossypii and the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. This year, J. B. Metternich and R. Gilmour at the University of Munster (Germany) discovered a new use for riboflavin. In their search for a better way to make Z-olefins, they found that riboflavin can serve as a photocatalytic chromophore to isomerize the E-isomer of retinal (a vitamin A aldehyde found in retinas) to its Z-form. They used riboflavin to catalyze the selective, irreversible conversion of planar, conjugated E-olefins to their twisted, nonconjugated Z-counterparts. The researchers believe this reaction will be useful in synthesizing complex molecules such as drugs and agrochemicals.

The Uses of Riboflavin

riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is used in skin care preparations as an emollient. It can be found in sun care products as a suntan enhancer. Medicinally, it is used for the treatment of skin lesions.

Indications

For the treatment of ariboflavinosis (vitamin B2 deficiency).

Background

Nutritional factor found in milk, eggs, malted barley, liver, kidney, heart, and leafy vegetables. The richest natural source is yeast. It occurs in the free form only in the retina of the eye, in whey, and in urine; its principal forms in tissues and cells are as flavin mononucleotide and flavin-adenine dinucleotide.

Pharmacokinetics

Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, is an easily absorbed, water-soluble micronutrient crucial for maintaining human health. Like other B vitamins, it supports energy production by aiding in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Vitamin B2 is necessary for red blood cell formation and respiration, antibody production, and the regulation of human growth and reproduction. It is essential for healthy skin, nails, and hair growth, as well as overall good health, including the regulation of thyroid activity. Additionally, riboflavin helps prevent or treat various eye disorders, including some cases of cataracts.

Metabolism

Hepatic.