Causes and Clinical Sequelae of Riboflavin Deficiency
McNulty H, Pentieva K, Ward M
Published in Annual Review of Nutrition
Methodology
Narrative review in Annual Review of Nutrition considering available evidence on the causes, detection and consequences of riboflavin deficiency, from clinical deficiency signs to manifestations of less severe deficiency, plus research and policy priorities.
Key Findings
This review examines riboflavin's role through its cofactors FAD and FMN in energy metabolism, antioxidant capacity and interactions with iron, vitamin B6 and folate. Severe deficiency, largely confined to low-income countries, presents clinically as cheilosis, angular stomatitis, glossitis, seborrheic dermatitis and severe anaemia with erythroid hypoplasia. The authors argue subclinical deficiency may be far more widespread, including in high-income countries, but goes undetected because riboflavin biomarkers are rarely measured. Adverse consequences of low riboflavin status across the life cycle include anaemia and hypertension.
Conclusions
Low riboflavin status has adverse health consequences across the life cycle, including anemia and hypertension.
Limitations
This is a narrative expert review rather than a quantitative synthesis, with no pooled estimates or formal risk-of-bias assessment; the claim that subclinical deficiency is widespread rests on the scarcity of biomarker measurement rather than on direct prevalence data.
Supplements Studied
There are adverse health consequences of low and deficient riboflavin status throughout the life cycle, including anemia and hypertension.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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