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Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Deficiency

While vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency is not common, it does happen and can especially occur in the following people:

• Athletes
  Athletes require more vitamin B2 (riboflavin) as they are using up so much of it when they engage in their vigorous physical exercise and need to replenish it quickly. Supplementation may be required for athletes (or anyone else that exercises strenuously).
• Diabetics
  People with diabetes may be excreting a lot of their vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and could become deficient, needing supplementation. People with diabetes need to seek the advice of their doctor to determine how much of this vitamin is required for their individual circumstances.
• People over 65 years
  People that are over 65 years may not be able to absorb vitamin B2 (riboflavin) properly (this happens to older people) and may not be eating enough foods rich in vitamin B2 (riboflavin) to help, so they could become deficient and require supplementation.
• People taking tricyclic antidepressants
  People taking tricyclic antidepressants may develop a vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency as this medication causes it to be less easily absorbed and less effective. People taking tricyclic antidepressants need to seek the advice of their doctor to determine how much of this vitamin is required for their individual circumstances.
• People that are experiencing ongoing or severe stress
  People that are experiencing high levels of stress may need more vitamin B2 (riboflavin) as their body is using up so much of their stores and will need to be replenished, resulting in a deficiency if the vitamin B2 (riboflavin) are not restored.
• People that are lactose intolerant
  People that are lactose intolerant may not be absorbing enough of their intake of the vitamin B2 (riboflavin) in the foods they eat due to their inability to digest lactose. People with a lactose intolerance need to seek the advice of their doctor to determine how much of this vitamin is required for their individual circumstances.

While vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency is not common, it does occur in certain groups of people

• People that have had recent surgery
  People that have recently had surgery may need more vitamin B2 (riboflavin) as their body is using up so much of it for healing the damaged tissues that have undergone surgery and a deficiency may result. People that will be undergoing surgery need to seek the advice of their doctor to determine how much of this vitamin is required for their individual circumstances.
• People with hyperthyroidism
  People that have hyperthyroidism, a health condition in which the thyroid is overworking and is causing metabolism to be increased, may be excreting a lot of their vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and could become deficient, needing supplementation. People with hyperthyroidism need to seek the advice of their doctor to determine how much of this vitamin is required for their individual circumstances.
• Women that are pregnant or breastfeeding
  Women that are pregnant or breastfeeding may need more vitamin B2 (riboflavin) because they are passing on so much of it to their child and as a consequence may become deficient themselves. Women that are pregnant or breastfeeding need to seek the advice of their doctor to determine how much of this vitamin is required for their individual circumstances.
• Women that take oral contraceptives
  Women that take oral contraceptives may develop a vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency as this medication causes it to be less easily absorbed and less effective. People taking oral contraceptives need to seek the advice of their doctor to determine how much of this vitamin is required for their individual circumstances.

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