Vitamin B2

Overview

Vitamin B2, Riboflavin, is one of the 8 water-soluble B vitamins.

 Vitamin B2 - Health Benefits

 Vitamin B2 - Dietary Sources

 Vitamin B2 - Biochemical Testing

Vitamin B2 may Enhance the Function of these Substances

Amino Acids

 Vitamin B2 is essential for the absorption of Tryptophan.

Carbohydrates

 Vitamin B2 facilitates the metabolism of Carbohydrates.

Enzymes

 Vitamin B2 is essential for the production of Glutathione Reductase.  ^[1]

 Vitamin B2 enhances the function of Glutathione Peroxidase.  ^[2]

 Vitamin B2 is a cofactor for Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR).

 Vitamin B2 is a cofactor for the production of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD).

Flavins

 Vitamin B2 is an essential component of Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide (FAD).  ^[3]

 Vitamin B2 is an essential component of Flavin Mononucleotide (FMN).  ^[4]

Minerals

 Vitamin B2 may enhance the body's absorption of Iron.  ^[5]

 Vitamin B2 may reduce the body’s urinary excretion of Selenium and may thereby facilitate the retention of Selenium.  ^[6]

Nucleic Compounds

 Vitamin B2 may facilitate the synthesis of endogenous Nucleic Acids - Endogenous.

Peptides

 Vitamin B2 may facilitate the recycling of oxidized Glutathione into fresh, active Glutathione.

Proteins

 Vitamin B2 may enhance the synthesis of some Proteins - Endogenous.

 Vitamin B2 is involved in the production of Collagen.

 Vitamin B2 may increase serum Ferritin (an Iron-storage Protein) levels (in Sickle Cell Anemia patients).

Quinones

 Vitamin B2 is an essential cofactor for the endogenous production of Coenzyme Q10.

Vitamins

 Vitamin B2 is required for the synthesis of active forms of Folic Acid.  ^[7]

 Vitamin B2 may enhance the absorption of Vitamin B6:

 Vitamin B2 is an essential cofactor for the conversion of dietary Vitamin B6 (e.g. Pyridoxine) to its active endogenous form (Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate).

Amino Acids

 Vitamin B2 may protect against the neurotoxic effectsof Glutamic Acid.  ^[8]

 Vitamin B2 may play a role in lowering Homocysteine levels (it is a cofactor for the enzyme that catalyzes the production of a specific form of Folic Acid required for the remethylation of Homocysteine to form Methionine).  ^[9]