Lipid metabolism, riboflavin deficiency

The main metabolic effect of riboflavin deficiency is on lipid metabolism. Riboflavin-deficient animals have a lower metabolic rate than controls, and require a 15—20% higher food intake to maintain body weight. Feeding a high-fat diet leads to more marked impairment of growth and a higher requirement for riboflavin to restore growth. 

Duerden JM and Bates CJ (1985) Effect of riboflavin deficiency on lipid metabolism of liver and brown adipose tissue of sucking rat pups. British Journal of Nutrition 53, 107-15. 

Animals also depend on plants for essential organic molecules that they are unable to make. We call some of these molecules vitamins. Several vitamins, including niacin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and biotin, are key players in catabolic and anabolic metabolism, and deficiencies in these vitamins have severe effects. Also, animals are incapable of synthesizing polyunsaturated fatty acids (fatty acids with more than one double bond). Polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential components of membrane lipids and must be obtained in the diet. So, the next time you have a salad, pay a tribute to photosynthesis. 

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