What is riboflavin and its role in metabolism

Riboflavin (vitamin B2 lactochrome, vitamin G, ovoflavin, lyuminoflavin, uroflavin, gepatoflavin) - a water-soluble B vitamin B vitamins: the body useful helpers . Its biological role is that he is involved in building a flavin coenzyme, a part of redox enzymes (flavonoproteidov) who are actively involved in the oxidation of fatty acids and other important biochemical processes.

Flavin enzymes occupy a central place in the process of energy (carbohydrate) metabolism, protein metabolism, supports and normalizes the function of the nervous, digestive and cardiovascular systems, is involved in hematopoiesis (promotes blood levels of hemoglobin), it is part of the visual purple which protects the retina from harmful UV rays. In medicine preparations riboflavin used as medicaments.

In humans, riboflavin occurs in free form and in the form of coenzymes (i.e., part of the enzyme - of substances, many times accelerating all biochemical reactions in the body). Together they make up the total riboflavin. Free riboflavin in the human body is contained in the retina, milk and urine.

The daily requirement for vitamin B2 Vitamin B2: basic functions   for adults is 1, 9 - 3 mg. When the body with food riboflavin is rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and into the blood, where - in the tissue where the distributed unevenly over its entire cardiac muscle, liver and kidney. Chronic gastrointestinal disease impede the process of absorption of riboflavin in the blood. He is able to penetrate through the placental barrier and is excreted in breast milk. Excreted from the body by the kidneys.

Signs of a lack of riboflavin in the body

Lack of riboflavin causes changes on the part of many organs and body systems. This condition is called ariboflavinoze and is characterized by lesions of the skin, mucous membranes in the mouth, eyes, nervous system and others. The cause of the disease may be a lack of riboflavin in the diet, but most ariboflaminoz is a consequence of malabsorption, or the assimilation of riboflavin.

Early signs of the disease are mucosal lesions in the corners of the mouth - skin in that area becomes red, ulcerated, covered with crusts. There has also been a sharp redness, red border, the appearance of them vertical fractures. Tongue surface first becomes grainy due to an increase papillae and then be smoothed, shiny, magenta. Patients feel pain and burning in the language, especially when eating. In the future, there is a change of skin in the wings of the nose, eyelids and ears with a soft peeling, actinic excretory ducts of the sebaceous glands ("sharkskin"), dry itchy dermatitis of the hands, genitals and anus.

Eye involvement is accompanied by conjunctivitis, a violation of adaptation in the dark, photophobia, lacrimation, rezyu and burning in the eyes. There are violations of blood - a lack of hemoglobin in red blood cells (anemia hypochromic). The nervous system is reflected in the lack of riboflavin apathy, headache, sensory disturbances (eg, the appearance of a burning sensation in the feet feet), gait disturbance, and sometimes - in the appearance of seizures. Lack of riboflavin negative impact also on the state of immunity Immunity - types and characteristics in children in adults .

Riboflavin is essential for normal fetal development. With a lack of it in the diet of pregnant women have premature birth and birth fetal stillbirth. These phenomena have also been observed, if the diet of women before pregnancy was the lack of riboflavin. The appearance of cracked nipples Cracked nipples - how to prepare for feeding the child?   in lactating women are also often due to a deficiency of riboflavin in the body.

Current ariboflavinoze chronic, with exacerbations during the spring months. Often the disease is accompanied by lack of other B vitamins: vitamin B6, nicotinic acid, and others.

How to make up for the lack of riboflavin

The main sources of riboflavin in the human diet are milk and dairy products, which provide half the daily requirement of man in this vitamin. In addition, riboflavin is found in liver, kidney, eggs, green vegetables (green peas, spinach, cauliflower), buckwheat groats, brewer's yeast.

When ariboflavinoze riboflavin is prescribed in the form of drugs (tablets or solution for injection). In addition, he is part of the vitamin and mineral complexes that are recommended for preventive purposes as a fortifying agent.

Galina Romanenko

What is the immune system and its types

Immunity - is human immunity against some diseases caused usually infectious agents. Immunity provides the immune system - the union of the organs and tissues that recognize and destroy all internal and external "enemies" that threaten human health (bacteria, viruses, protozoa, toxins, their own tumor cells, and so on). All the "enemies" are alien to the human body or antigens.

The immune system includes thymus, bone marrow, liver, spleen, clusters of lymphoid tissue in the intestine, the lymph nodes and some red blood cells (macrophages, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, etc.).

The first obstacle for the penetration of the "enemy" in the body are the physical barriers (skin, mucous membranes). If he managed to break through these barriers, the system activates the innate immune system, which is aimed at all "enemies" in general (cellular immunity, there are special blood cells that devour and dissolve inside the bacteria and viruses) and then connects the acquired (antibody) immunity which is produced at the first introduction of the "enemy" - the antigen (in response to its introduction produced by special proteins - antibodies).

To immunity is maintained in the normal state, the body requires proteins (including built immune cells and consist antibodies), carbohydrates (the fuel, without which no no biochemical process), fats (also members of all biochemical processes), minerals, and vitamins - they are co-enzymes, that is part of enzymes - substances that speed up many times all biochemical processes.

What vitamins are the most important

For proper metabolism Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things , Including the formation of immune cells and proteins, all of the vitamins required, but some of them play the most significant role:

• Vitamin A (retinol) - participates in protein metabolism, including during the formation of antibodies; when the immune system is weakened deficit, reduces the production of antibodies and immune cells of the blood, a person begins to ache often colds and rapidly aging;
• Vitamin E (tocopherol) - participates in formation of antibodies, as it suffers from insufficiency both humoral (antibody production) and cellular (active immune cells capture bacteria and viruses) immunity; vitamin E increases the resistance to diseases in all age groups, it is particularly useful for people older age group;
• vitamins Group B - Energy, is impossible without them none of the biochemical process; They help to stimulate the immune system during times of stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis After surgery or trauma; Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) - is involved in protein and fat metabolism, regulates the nervous system, adrenal gland, thyroid gland The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones ; vitamin B9 (folic acid) and vitamin H (biotin) increases the speed of response of the immune system to implement various antigens; vitamin B6 Vitamin B6: the basic functions and sources   (pyridoxine) takes part in protein metabolism, stimulates the synthesis of nucleic acids, which are necessary for cell growth and antibody production to fight infection and increases the ability of immune cells to digest and destroy bacteria (cellular immunity); Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) increases the strength of the immune defense and its ability to kill foreign cells, is involved in protein synthesis and metabolism in the body of folic acid;
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) increases the activity of macrophages in the fight against infectious agents (cellular immunity).

To strengthen the immune system are advised to take vitamin and mineral supplements that contain vitamin doses, not too small, but not exceeding the age norms daily requirement for them. Thus, the daily requirement for vitamin A - 1 mg or 3,300 IU of vitamin E - 20 - 30 mg or IU, of vitamin B5 - 5 mg of vitamin B6 - 2 mg folic acid - 0, 2 mg, vitamin B12 - 2 mg (for pregnant women - 3 mg), vitamin H - 50 mg ascorbic acid - 70-100 mg.

Some vitamin and mineral complex contains the maximum allowable dose of vitamins, so all systems must be taken strictly in accordance with instructions or prescribed by a doctor.

Galina Romanenko