Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
What is Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)?
Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, is a member of the B-vitamin family and is water-soluble. Due to restrictive diets, gastrointestinal issues, or metabolic abnormalities, children with ASD may have low levels. It is important for proper growth & development, cell function, and important antioxidants like glutathione.
Riboflavin is important for energy production, cellular function, growth and development, and the metabolism of fats, drugs and steroids in the body. It is also involved in the process to convert tryptophan, an amino acid, into vitamin B3 for our body. [1]
Riboflavin has a bright yellow color, so when it’s taken in large amounts (like a multivitamin), it might turn your urine neon yellow. Nothing to worry, this is harmless!
Deficiency of riboflavin can interfere with the maintenance of reduced glutathione [1].
One important source of riboflavin is from the bacteria in our guts. The bacteria will produce more riboflavin after vegetables are ingested, versus meat products. [2]
Sources of Riboflavin
Food groups rich in riboflavin meat products like milk, lean meats and organ meats. Riboflavin content is lost in the cooking water when foods are boiled due to the vitamin being water-soluble. Ways to prepare food with minimal riboflavin losses include steaming or microwaving.
Eggs
Poultry
Pork
Organ meats (liver & kidneys)
Green vegetables (broccoli, asparagus, spinach, etc)
Almonds
Foods such as pastas, grains, and breads may be enriched with riboflavin. Those who are sensitive to fortified B vitamins or have methylation issues should avoid such grains and consume natural sources instead (listed above).
Recommended Intake
These recommendations are based off of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), which is the average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient recommendations of nearly all (97-98%) of healthy individuals.
Males
o-6 months: 0.3 mg/d
7-12 months: 0.4 mg/d
1-3 years: 0.5 mg/d
4-8 years: 0.6 mg/d
9-13 years: 0.9 mg/d
14-18 years: 1.3 mg/d
19-50 years: 1.3 mg/d
51+ years: 1.3 mg/d
Females
o-6 months: 0.3 mg/d
7-12 months: 0.4 mg/d
1-3 years: 0.5 mg/d
4-8 years: 0.6 mg/d
9-13 years: 0.9 mg/d
14-18 years: 1.0 mg/d
19-50 years: 1.1 mg/d
51+ years: 1.1 mg/d
Deficiency
Riboflavin deficiency is rare in the United States. While inadequate intakes can cause a deficiency, another cause can be endocrine abnormalities such as thyroid hormone insufficiency, restrictive diets, and other diseases. Deficiency of riboflavin can interfere with the maintenance of reduced glutathione [1].
Signs of riboflavin deficiency include:
Skin disorders
Hyperemia (excess bleeding)
Edema of the throat or mouth
Angular stomatitis (lesions at the corner of the mouth)
Cheilosis (swollen/cracked lips)
Hair loss
Reproductive problems
Sore throat
Itchy/red eyes
Liver and nervous system issues
Anemia
Cataracts
Migraines
Individuals at risk for riboflavin deficiency:
Those following a restricted diet
Vegetarians/vegans
Pregnant/lactating women
Infantile Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome
Toxicity
Riboflavin from food sources have not produced any observable risks for toxicity. Since riboflavin’s ability to be absorbed significantly decreases as the amount taken increases, toxicity from high intakes have not been reported. Due to this, an Upper Limit for riboflavin has not been established.
Supplements
Riboflavin can be found separately or along with a multivitamin or in a B-complex. A multivitamin will provide on average 1.3 mg riboflavin. Riboflavin is easily destroyed by light, so any supplements should be kept out of the light or in an opaque container.
Examples
Note: All supplements are linked to Amazon for convenience, however, buying supplements on Amazon does not guarantee quality, as there are many “unverified resellers” selling nutrition supplements. To buy supplements that are verified to be sent directly to the consumer, you can create an account on the Autism Dietitian FullScript and search for the respective supplement under “Catalog”.
DISCLAIMER: Before starting any supplement or medication, always consult with your healthcare provider to ensure it is a good fit for your child. Dosage can vary based on age, weight, gender, and current diet.
Riboflavin & Autism in the Research
Riboflavin Intake
Due to reduced intake of a variety of foods within children with autism, research shows that children with ASD are consuming less riboflavin than typically developing children [3-4]
Riboflavin Supplementation
Supplementation or specialized dietary intervention with B-vitamin, including riboflavin, has been seen to be helpful for individuals with autism [5]
Riboflavin Metabolism
Some research has stated that individuals with autism may have altered metabolic pathways that may affect nutrition-related levels like riboflavin [6]
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Description[1] Pinto JT, Zempleni J. Riboflavin. Adv Nutr. 2016;7(5):973-5.
[2] Said HM, Ross AC. Riboflavin. In: Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, Tucker KL, Ziegler TR, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 11th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014:325-30.
[3] Esteban-figuerola P, Canals J, Fernández-cao JC, Arija val V. Differences in food consumption and nutritional intake between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children: A meta-analysis. Autism. 2019;23(5):1079-1095.
[4] Marí-bauset S, Llopis-gonzález A, Zazpe I, Marí-sanchis A, Morales suárez-varela M. Comparison of nutritional status between children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing children in the Mediterranean Region (Valencia, Spain). Autism. 2017;21(3):310-322.
[5] Adams JB, Audhya T, Geis E, et al. Comprehensive Nutritional and Dietary Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Randomized, Controlled 12-Month Trial. Nutrients. 2018;10(3)
[6] Gevi F, Zolla L, Gabriele S, Persico AM. Urinary metabolomics of young Italian autistic children supports abnormal tryptophan and purine metabolism. Mol Autism. 2016;7:47. text goes here
Authors
April Allen, RDN
Brittyn Coleman, MS, RDN/LD, CLT
