Riboflavin/Vitamin B2
Alexa Lisenba
Functions in the Human Body
Riboflavin is a type of B vitamin. It is water-soluble, which means it is not stored in the body, so you must replenish the vitamin in your body every day. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) works with the other B vitamins, and is important for body growth, red blood cell production, and helps in releasing energy from carbohydrates.
Riboflavin Deficiency
Deficiency of riboflavin is not common in the United States due to the fact that this vitamin is plentiful in the American food supply. Symptoms of a severe vitamin B2 deficiency include:
- Anemia
- Mouth or lip sores
- Skin disorders
- Sore throat
- Swelling of mucus membranes
Because riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin, leftover amounts leave the body through the urine and there is no known poisoning from riboflavin.