Vitamin B2
What is vitamin B2?
Vitamin B2, a yellow-green fluorescent pigment, was first recognised in 1879. Its significance, however, was only understood by the 1930s. It was synthetically produced for the first time in 1935.Riboflavin (the name most frequently used on the labels of supplements and fortified foods) is one of the B-complex vitamins. All of these vitamins play an essential role in metabolism.Riboflavin, like all the other B-complex vitamins and vitamin C, is a vwater-soluble vitamin. The B-complex vitamins are grouped together because of their similar physical properties and their presence in similar food sources.
Because of the close inter-relationship between the B-complex vitamins, it is important to note that the inadequate intake of one of the vitamins can result in the impaired utilisation of the others.
Although small amounts of riboflavin are stored in the liver and kidney, the body's stores easily become depleted.
What vitamin B2 does for you
Your body needs vitamin B2 to be able to turn the calories in the food you eat (in protein, fat and carbohydrates) into glucose so that your cells can use it for energy. The vitamin is important in the maintenance of many tissues of the body.The vitamin also plays an important role in the protection of antioxidants. The word "antioxidant" refers to a substance that can inhibit the activity of free radicals read more
