Vitamin B2

Riboflavin

Riboflavin functions in two important enzymes, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). These enzymes act as cofactors for a wide variety of oxidative enzyme systems, and are central to energy production, drug metabolism, and lipid metabolism.

MIGRAINE - it has been suggested that the cause of migraine is a reduction of energy production within the mitochondria of cerebral blood vessels. A study involving 49 patients suffering from migraine used 400mg of riboflavin daily for at least three months. After the three months there was an overall improvement in 68% of the patients using riboflavin.
ANTIOXIDANT - riboflavin has powerful antioxidant potential due its ability to regenerate GLUTATHIONE via glutathione reductase. Riboflavin deficiency is associated with increased lipid peroxidation; supplementation of riboflavin can inhibit this process.
NEUROTRANSMITTER PRODUCTION - important neurotransmitters such as DOPAMINE are riboflavin dependent.
ENERGY PRODUCTION (ATP) - FAD plays a crucial role in energy production within the Kreb's cycle, where it helps generate an enzyme converting succinate into fumarate.

Dosage

No toxicity or side effects of riboflavin have been demonstrated.

Potential applications

Riboflavin deficiency - characterised by; weakness, fatigue, mouth pain and tenderness, eye burning and itching, personality changes, cheilosis, angular stomatitis, dermatitis, corneal vascularisation, anemia, and brain dysfunction. Riboflavin is a potent antioxidant and offers particular benefits in protecting fatty tissues in the body such as the brain. These antioxidant effects have been shown to be beneficial in cases of SICKLE CELL ANEMIA. Research has shown that riboflavin supplementation has led to significant improvements in iron status, (with increased total iron-binding capacity and serum ferritin) and glutathione levels. Riboflavin appears to be beneficial in treating lactic acidosis, common in AIDS patients, and in mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders such as infantile lactic acidosis, and skeletal myopathy / cardiomyopathy.

Known contraindications

None known. Although correction of deficiency is warranted, individuals with cataracts should not use more than 10mg riboflavin per day due to photosensitivity effects.

Interactions

The conversion of vitamin B6 to its active co-enzyme form P-5-P may be impaired in riboflavin deficiency. The conversion of riboflavin into its active coenzyme form is inhibited by thyroid and adrenal insufficiency; psychotropic drugs such as amitriptyline, chemotherapeutic drugs, and anti-malarial drugs. Alcohol causes riboflavin deficiency by interfering with both its digestion and intestinal absorption.

Use in conjunction with

Migraine - Flax seed oil, quercetin complex, pycnogenol/grape seed extract.
Note Riboflavin supplementation can result in a harmless yellow discolouration of the urine - it is thought that this effect is due to bacterial action on riboflavin, with metabolites then being absorbed and then excreted in the urine.

REFERENCES

Michael Murray. 1996. The Encyclopaedia of Nutritional Supplements. P. 44-53
Bowman and Russell. 2001. Present Knowledge in Nutrition. Eighth Edition.
James L. Groff, Sareen S. Gropper, Sara M. Hunt. 1995. Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism. 2nd Edition.
Krymchantowski AV, Bigal ME, Moreira PF. New and emerging prophylactic agents for migraine. Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal Fluminense and Institute of Neurology Deolindo Couto, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. CNS Drugs 2002;16(9):611-34
Schoenen J, Jacquy J, Lenaerts M. Effectiveness of high-dose riboflavin in migraine prophylaxis. A randomized controlled trial. Department of Neurology, University of Liege, CHR Citadelle, Belgium. Neurology 1998 Feb;50(2):466-70

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