Assessment of Riboflavin Nutritional Status

Two methods of assessing riboflavin status are generally used urinary excretion of the vitamin and its metabolites, and activation of EGR. Criteria of riboflavin adequacy are shown in Table 7.5. 

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Although riboflavin is fundamentally involved in metabolism, and deficiencies are found in most countries, it is not fatal as there is very efficient conservation of tissue riboflavin. Riboflavin deficiency is characterized by cheilosis, lingual desquamation and a seborrheic dermatitis. Riboflavin nutritional status is assessed by measurement of the activation of erythrocyte glutathione reductase by FAD added in vitro. 

For enzymes that have a tightly bound cofactor, such as thiamin diphosphate (and also riboflavin derivatives see section 11.7 and vitamin B, section 11.9), the extent to which red blood cells can compete with other tissues for the vitamin-derived coenzyme provides a sensitive means of assessing nutritional status. Tissue contains ... 

Kodentsova VM, Vrzhesinskaya OA, and SpirichevVB (1995) Eluorometric riboflavin titration in plasma by riboflavin-binding apoprotein as a method for vitamin B2 status assessment. Amnals of Nutrition and Metabolism 39,355-60. 

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