Vitamin B2 (Riboflavine 5 Phosphate)

Description

Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is one of the eight B vitamins that are essential for human health.

Roles:

• Helps break down food components, absorb other nutrients, and maintain tissues.
• Helps convert carbohydrates into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which produces energy as the body needs
• Works with other B vitamins to maintain body growth and the production of red blood cells.

Effects:

• Riboflavin helps release energy from foods and is important for the growth, development, and function of the cells in the body
• Riboflavin functions as an antioxidant, fighting damaging particles in the body known as free radicals.
• Riboflavin deficiency can result in macronutrients like fats, carbohydrates, and proteins not being digested to maintain the body.
• Riboflavin is also needed to help the body change vitamin B6 and folate into forms it can use.
• Most healthy people who eat a well-balanced diet get enough riboflavin. However, elderly people and alcoholics may be at risk for riboflavin deficiency because of poor diet.

Sources:

Riboflavin occurs naturally in some foods, added to others, and it can be taken as supplements. Here are some sources of Vitamin B2:

• Grains, plants, and dairy products.
• Meat, fish, and poultry.
• Eggs, nuts, and green vegetables.

It’s important to consume Vitamin B2 every day, because the body can only store small amounts, and supplies go down rapidly.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin 5 phosphate) vs Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Riboflavin:

• Riboflavin is the inactive form of Vitamin B2.
• It is destroyed by light and heat and in an alkaline medium.
• It is absorbed in the upper part of the small intestine, is increased with food and delayed on an empty stomach.
• It is converted to Riboflavin 5 Phosphate in the mitochondria.

Riboflavin 5 Phosphate:

• Riboflavin 5 Phosphate is the active form of Vitamin B2.
• It is synthesized in the mitochondria.
• It is involved in many critical metabolic processes in the body.
• It is required for the conversion of Folate and Vitamin B6 to their bioavailable forms.

Riboflavin 5 Phosphate is the more bioavailable form of Vitamin B2 and is used in many metabolic processes in the body.

It is also required for the conversion of other vitamins to their bioavailable forms.

Additional information