Riboflavin
and Your Eyes
Age-related cataracts are the leading
cause of visual disability in the U.S. and other developed
countries. Research has focused on the role of nutritional
antioxidants because of evidence that oxidative damage of
lens proteins from light may lead to the development of
age-related cataracts. Two case-control studies found significantly
decreased risk of age-related cataract (33% to 51%) in men
and women in the highest quintile of dietary riboflavin
intakes (1.6 to 2.2 mg/day) compared with those in the lowest
quintile (0.08 mg/day). Individuals in the highest quintile
of riboflavin nutritional status, as measured by red blood
cell glutathione reductase activity, had approximately one
half the occurrence of age-related cataract as those in
the lowest quintile of riboflavin status, though the results
were not statistically significant. Recently, a cross-sectional
study of 2,900 Australian men and women, 49 years of age
and older, found that those in the highest quintile of intake
for riboflavin were 50% less likely to have cataracts than
those in the lowest quintile. A prospective study of more
than 50,000 women did not observe a difference between rates
of cataract extraction between women in the highest quintile
of riboflavin intake (1.5 mg/day) and those in the lowest
quintile (1.2 mg/day). However, the range between the highest
and lowest quintiles was small, and median intake levels
for both were above the current RDA for riboflavin. Although
these observational studies provide support for the role
of riboflavin in the prevention of cataracts, placebo-controlled
intervention trials are needed to confirm the relationship.
For more information on Oxidation and Antioxidants, click
here to read our document on OPCs.
Riboflavin
Preventing Migraines
Some evidence indicates that impaired
mitochondria oxygen metabolism in the brain may play a role
in the pathology of migraine headaches. As the precursor
of the two flavin coenzymes (FAD and FMN) required by the
flavoproteins of the mitochondrial electron transport chain,
supplemental riboflavin has been investigated as a treatment
for migraine. A randomized placebo-controlled trial examined
the effect of 400 mg of riboflavin/day for 3 months on migraine
prevention in 54 men and women with a history of recurrent
migraine headaches . Riboflavin was significantly better
than placebo in reducing attack frequency and the number
of headache days, though the beneficial effect was most
pronounced during the third month of treatment. It should
be noted, however, that only about 25 mg of riboflavin can
be absorbed in a single oral dose. A more recent study by
the same investigators found that treatment with either
a medication called a beta-blocker or high-dose riboflavin
resulted in clinical improvement, but each therapy appeared
to act on a distinct pathological mechanism; beta-blockers
on abnormal cortical information processing and riboflavin
on decreased brain mitochondrial energy reserve. Though
these findings are preliminary, they suggest that riboflavin
supplementation might be a useful adjunct to pharmacological
therapy with beta-blockers in migraine prevention.
About
Riboflavin Supplements
Certain groups of people are at a greater
risk being deficient in riboflavin. They are individuals
with kidney disease who are being treated with dialysis;
individuals with absorption problems; women who are pregnant
with more than one fetus; and women who are breastfeeding
more than one infant. In addition, chronic diseases such
as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus are known
to trigger vitamin B-2 deficiency.
There are not many vitamin supplements
purely based on riboflavin, however Selenium Synergy (50
Caps) from Jarrow Formulations is a good choice for people
that wants to get some extra vitamin B2 along with some
other useful nutrients such as Selenium, Vitamin E and Garlic
(odor modified) to prevent or fight against the deadly diseases.
Click
here for Selenium Synergy (50 Caps) from Jarrow Formulations
If you are not in one of the above risky
categories, we recommend you getting a complex vitamin or
multivitamin that contains all necessary B vitamins to save
all the trouble and avoid being overdose in particular vitamin.
We suggest the following two brand.
Click
here for Rainbow Light 40+ Complete Multivitamin
Click
here to purchase Twinlab B-Complex vitamins 100 Caps and
save!
Click
here to read our reviews on the popular vitamin B-2 supplements.
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