Riboflavin

Riboflavin
Chemical structure
Clinical data
Trade namesMany[1]
Other nameslactochrome, lactoflavin, vitamin G[2]
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
License data
Routes of
administration		By mouth, intramuscular, intravenous
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • US: Dietary supplement
Pharmacokinetic data
Elimination half-life66 to 84 minutes
ExcretionUrine
Identifiers
  • 7,8-Dimethyl-10-[(2S,3S,4R)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxypentyl]benzo[g]pteridine-2,4-dione
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
E numberE101, E101(iii) (colours) Edit this at Wikidata
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.001.370 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC17H20N4O6
Molar mass376.369 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • c12cc(C)c(C)cc1N=C3C(=O)NC(=O)N=C3N2C[C@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO
  • InChI=InChI=1S/C17H20N4O6/c1-7-3-9-10(4-8(7)2)21(5-11(23)14(25)12(24)6-22)15-13(18-9)16(26)20-17(27)19-15/h3-4,11-12,14,22-25H,5-6H2,1-2H3,(H,20,26,27)/t11-,12+,14-/m0/s1 checkY
  • Key:AUNGANRZJHBGPY-SCRDCRAPSA-N checkY

Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is a vitamin found in food and sold as a dietary supplement.[3] It is essential to the formation of two major coenzymes, flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide. These coenzymes are involved in energy metabolism, cellular respiration, and antibody production, as well as normal growth and development. The coenzymes are also required for the metabolism of niacin, vitamin B6, and folate. Riboflavin is prescribed to treat corneal thinning, and taken orally, may reduce the incidence of migraine headaches in adults.

Riboflavin deficiency is rare and is usually accompanied by deficiencies of other vitamins and nutrients. It may be prevented or treated by oral supplements or by injections. As a water-soluble vitamin, any riboflavin consumed in excess of nutritional requirements is not stored; it is either not absorbed or is absorbed and quickly excreted in urine, causing the urine to have a bright yellow tint. Natural sources of riboflavin include meat, fish and fowl, eggs, dairy products, green vegetables, mushrooms, and almonds. Some countries require its addition to grains.[3]

In its purified, solid form, it is a water-soluble yellow-orange crystalline powder. In addition to its function as a vitamin, it is used as a food coloring agent. Biosynthesis takes place in bacteria, fungi and plants, but not animals. Industrial synthesis of riboflavin was initially achieved using a chemical process, but current commercial manufacturing relies on fermentation methods using strains of fungi and genetically modified bacteria.

  1. ^ "Riboflavin". Drugs.com. 22 July 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference anm was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c "Riboflavin: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals". Office of Dietary Supplements, US National Institutes of Health. 11 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2023.