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Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin Article:
from:Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, gets its name from its color. The root of the word is from the Latin "flavus," meaning "yellow." Excess riboflavin excreted in the urine is often responsible for the change in a person's urine color to bright yellow following the high level supplementation of B-complex vitamins.
However, the highest concentrations of riboflavin in the body occur in the heart, liver, and kidneys. High liver and kidney concentrations show the prominent role of riboflavin in metabolic activity, with the liver serving as a central metabolic processing point and the kidneys providing the elimination of unneeded molecules. High concentration of riboflavin in the heart comes from the heart's dependence on oxygen-based (or aerobic) energy production and riboflavin is essential in allowing that energy production to occur.
Energy production is one of riboflavin's functions. This occurs when riboflavin takes one of two forms, either flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) or flavin mononucleotide (FMN.) When this occurs, riboflavin can attach to protein enzymes and allow oxygen-based energy production to occur.
Another function of riboflavin is being a cofactor for homocysteine metabolism. Riboflavin is a cofactor for an enzyme, MTHFR, that is involved in the breakdown metabolism of homocysteine, which found at high levels can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Individuals who have MTHFR enzyme that doesn't function optimally due to a genetic mutation have been found to have high homocysteine levels, but if their riboflavin status is adequate, the chances of elevated homocysteine levels decrease.
Another function of riboflavin is in glutathione recycling. Glutathione is a small, protein-like molecule that helps to prevent oxygen-containing molecules from inadvertanently damaging bodily structures like cell membranes, blood vessel linings, and joint tissue. Riboflavin is what allows glutathione to be recycled so that it can continuously keep oxygen-containing molecules from destroying bodily structures.
Riboflavin also maintains supplies of vitamin B3, niacin. An enzyme called kynurenine mono-oxygenase converts the amino acid tryptophan into niacin. Riboflavin allows the kynurenine mono-oxygenase to function and change the tryptophan into niacin.
If a person has low riboflavin levels, it's likely that person will have eye-related problems, including excessive sensitivity to light, tearing, burning, and itching in and around the eyes, as well as loss of clear vision. Soreness around the lips, mouth, and tongue, as well as cracking of the skin at the corners of the mouth are also signs of a person with low levels of riboflavin. Peeling of the skin around the nose, or in men, around the scrotum, can also indicate low levels of riboflavin.
Excellent sources of riboflavin include mushrooms, calf's liver, spinach and spelt whole grain flour.
Heat and air do very little damage to riboflavin, but light does cause significant damage to riboflavin. That's why high-riboflavin foods should be cooked in covered pots whenever possible and stored in opaque containers. The loss of riboflavin from cooking and storing without excessive light exposure is usually less than 25%.
According to the Recommended Dietary Allowances for riboflavin, men and women who are 9-13 years old should receive 900 micrograms of riboflavin a day, while men older than 13 years old should receive 1.3 milligrams of riboflavin a day and women older than 13 years old should receive 1.0 milligram a day. Pregnant women should receive 1.4 milligrams of riboflavin a day.
For more information, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riboflavin
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/rib_0263.shtml
http://www.anyvitamins.com/vitamin-b2-riboflavin-info.htm
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