Revitalising Riboflavin: Unveiling Its Timeless Significance in Human Physiology and Health

Overview

Journal Foods

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2024 Jul 27

PMID 39063339

Authors

M Angela Aragao

Lara Pires

Celestino Santos-Buelga

Lillian Barros

Ricardo C Calhelha

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Since the early twentieth century, research on vitamins has revealed their therapeutic potential beyond their role as essential micronutrients. Riboflavin, known as vitamin B2, stands out for its unique characteristics. Despite numerous studies, riboflavin remains vital, with implications for human health. Abundantly present in various foods, riboflavin acts as a coenzyme in numerous enzymatic reactions crucial for human metabolism. Its role in energy production, erythrocyte synthesis, and vitamin metabolism underscores its importance in maintaining homeostasis. The impact of riboflavin extends to neurological function, skin health, and cardiovascular well-being, with adequate levels linked to reduced risks of various ailments. However, inadequate intake or physiological stress can lead to deficiency, a condition that poses serious health risks, including severe complications. This underscores the importance of maintaining sufficient levels of riboflavin for general wellness. The essential role of riboflavin in immune function further emphasises its significance for human health and vitality. This paper examines the diverse effects of riboflavin on health and stresses the importance of maintaining sufficient levels for overall well-being.

Citing Articles

Exertional Exhaustion (Post-Exertional Malaise, PEM) Evaluated by the Effects of Exercise on Cerebrospinal Fluid Metabolomics-Lipidomics and Serine Pathway in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Baraniuk J Int J Mol Sci. 2025; 26(3).

PMID: 39941050 PMC: 11818353. DOI: 10.3390/ijms26031282.

Water-Soluble Vitamins: Hypo- and Hypervitaminosis in Pediatric Population.

Paparella R, Panvino F, Leonardi L, Pucarelli I, Menghi M, Micangeli G Pharmaceutics. 2025; 17(1).

PMID: 39861765 PMC: 11768360. DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17010118.

Exploring Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Dysregulation in Lung Tissues of Offspring Rats Exposed to Prenatal Polystyrene Microplastics: Effects of Melatonin Treatment.

Yu H, Tsai C, Chen W, Liu P, Tain Y, Sheen J Antioxidants (Basel). 2025; 13(12.

PMID: 39765788 PMC: 11672973. DOI: 10.3390/antiox13121459.

Exploring the role of riboflavin in swine well-being: a literature review.

Shastak Y, Pelletier W Porcine Health Manag. 2024; 10(1):46.

PMID: 39482748 PMC: 11526614. DOI: 10.1186/s40813-024-00399-1.

References

Kutta R, Archipowa N, Johannissen L, Jones A, Scrutton N . Vertebrate Cryptochromes are Vestigial Flavoproteins. Sci Rep. 2017; 7:44906. PMC: 5357904. DOI: 10.1038/srep44906. View

Condo M, Posar A, Arbizzani A, Parmeggiani A . Riboflavin prophylaxis in pediatric and adolescent migraine. J Headache Pain. 2009; 10(5):361-5. PMC: 3452096. DOI: 10.1007/s10194-009-0142-2. View

Auranen M, Paetau A, Piirila P, Pohju A, Salmi T, Lamminen A . Patient with multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenation deficiency disease and FLAD1 mutations benefits from riboflavin therapy. Neuromuscul Disord. 2017; 27(6):581-584. DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2017.03.003. View

Bacher A, Eberhardt S, Eisenreich W, Fischer M, Herz S, Illarionov B . Biosynthesis of riboflavin. Vitam Horm. 2001; 61:1-49. DOI: 10.1016/s0083-6729(01)61001-x. View

Flynn A, Moreiras O, Stehle P, Fletcher R, Muller D, Rolland V . Vitamins and minerals: a model for safe addition to foods. Eur J Nutr. 2003; 42(2):118-30. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-003-0391-9. View

Murgia C, Dehlia A, Guthridge M . New insights into the nutritional genomics of adult-onset riboflavin-responsive diseases. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2023; 20(1):42. PMC: 10580530. DOI: 10.1186/s12986-023-00764-x. View

Wilcken B, Bamforth F, Li Z, Zhu H, Ritvanen A, Renlund M . Geographical and ethnic variation of the 677C>T allele of 5,10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR): findings from over 7000 newborns from 16 areas world wide. J Med Genet. 2003; 40(8):619-25. PMC: 1735571. DOI: 10.1136/jmg.40.8.619. View

Vabulas R . Ferroptosis-Related Flavoproteins: Their Function and Stability. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(1). PMC: 7796112. DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010430. View

Balasubramaniam S, Christodoulou J, Rahman S . Disorders of riboflavin metabolism. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2019; 42(4):608-619. DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12058. View

10.

Leone P, Galluccio M, Barbiroli A, Eberini I, Tolomeo M, Vrenna F . Bacterial Production, Characterization and Protein Modeling of a Novel Monofuctional Isoform of FAD Synthase in Humans: An Emergency Protein?. Molecules. 2018; 23(1). PMC: 6017331. DOI: 10.3390/molecules23010116. View

11.

Fairweather-Tait S, Powers H, Minski M, Whitehead J, Downes R . Riboflavin deficiency and iron absorption in adult Gambian men. Ann Nutr Metab. 1992; 36(1):34-40. DOI: 10.1159/000177696. View

12.

Mamede A, Tavares S, Abrantes A, Trindade J, Maia J, Botelho M . The role of vitamins in cancer: a review. Nutr Cancer. 2011; 63(4):479-94. DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2011.539315. View

13.

Yonezawa A, Inui K . Novel riboflavin transporter family RFVT/SLC52: identification, nomenclature, functional characterization and genetic diseases of RFVT/SLC52. Mol Aspects Med. 2013; 34(2-3):693-701. DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2012.07.014. View

14.

Colasuonno F, Marioli C, Tartaglia M, Bertini E, Compagnucci C, Moreno S . New Insights into the Neurodegeneration Mechanisms Underlying Riboflavin Transporter Deficiency (RTD): Involvement of Energy Dysmetabolism and Cytoskeletal Derangement. Biomedicines. 2022; 10(6). PMC: 9219947. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061329. View

15.

Pires L, Gonzalez-Paramas A, Heleno S, Calhelha R . The Role of Gut Microbiota in the Etiopathogenesis of Multiple Chronic Diseases. Antibiotics (Basel). 2024; 13(5). PMC: 11117238. DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13050392. View

16.

Repp B, Mastantuono E, Alston C, Schiff M, Haack T, Rotig A . Clinical, biochemical and genetic spectrum of 70 patients with ACAD9 deficiency: is riboflavin supplementation effective?. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2018; 13(1):120. PMC: 6053715. DOI: 10.1186/s13023-018-0784-8. View

17.

McNulty H, Strain J, Hughes C, Ward M . Riboflavin, MTHFR genotype and blood pressure: A personalized approach to prevention and treatment of hypertension. Mol Aspects Med. 2016; 53:2-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2016.10.002. View

18.

Nathan C, Cunningham-Bussel A . Beyond oxidative stress: an immunologist's guide to reactive oxygen species. Nat Rev Immunol. 2013; 13(5):349-61. PMC: 4250048. DOI: 10.1038/nri3423. View

19.

Powers H . Riboflavin (vitamin B-2) and health. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003; 77(6):1352-60. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/77.6.1352. View

20.

Giancaspero T, Colella M, Brizio C, Difonzo G, Fiorino G, Leone P . Remaining challenges in cellular flavin cofactor homeostasis and flavoprotein biogenesis. Front Chem. 2015; 3:30. PMC: 4406087. DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2015.00030. View