Definition
A water-soluble vitamin required by the body for health, growth and reproduction; one of the B-complex vitamins.

Alternative Names
Deficiency - vitamin B2 (riboflavin); Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency; Diet - riboflavin; Vitamin B2

Function
Riboflavin (B2) works with the other B vitamins. It is important for body growth and red cell production, and helps in releasing energy from carbohydrates.

Food Sources
Lean meats, eggs, legumes, nuts, green leafy vegetables, dairy products, and milk provide riboflavin in the diet. Breads and cereals are often fortified with riboflavin. Because riboflavin is destroyed by exposure to light, foods with riboflavin should not be stored in glass containers that are exposed to light.

Side Effects
Deficiency of riboflavin is not common in the U.S. because this vitamin is plentiful in the food supply. Deficiency symptoms include dry and cracked skin and eyes that are sensitive to bright light.

There is no known toxicity to riboflavin. Because riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin, excess amounts are excreted by the body in the urine.

Recommendations
Recommended daily allowances (RDAs) are defined as the levels of intake of essential nutrients that the Food and Nutrition Board judges to be adequate to meet the known nutrient needs of almost all healthy people.

The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods from the food guide pyramid.

Specific recommendations for each nutrient depend on age, gender, and other factors (such as pregnancy).