Riboflavin is the 2nd of the 8 or more B Vitamins collectively referred to as B complex vitamins. They are water-soluble vitamins and are neither manufactured nor stored in the body.
All B vitamins individually have specific roles to play in the body during the breakdown process (catabolism) of carbohydrates to give energy, as well as during protein & fat metabolism. These B vitamins are essential for healthy skin, hair, eyes, liver and normal functioning of the nervous system.
Riboflavin also known as Vitamin B2 acts as a Co-factor for many enzymes in major biochemical pathways
Major functions -
- In Energy production: Like Thiamin & Niacin, Riboflavin is also critical for the release of energy from foods. Proteins with riboflavin attached (flavoprotein) act as co enzymes, viz: FAD & FMN (Flavin Adenine di-nucleotide & Flavin mononucleotide respectively) and participate in oxidation-reduction reactions in metabolic pathways leading to energy production. Naturally these flavoproteins are distributed throughout the body but even more so where oxygen-based energy production is constantly needed such as heart and skeletal muscle, etc.
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