Biomarker Assessments Reveal Global Vitamin B2 Deficiencies in Women and Children

This study looked at how common riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency is among women of childbearing age and children in different parts of the world. Riboflavin is important because the body needs it to produce energy and support many basic functions. However, it is rarely measured in large studies, so its global status has been unclear.

The researchers tested riboflavin levels in people from both high-income countries (such as the UK, Ireland, Spain, and Canada) and lower-income countries (including Cambodia, Uganda, and Malaysia). They found that deficiency was surprisingly widespread everywhere. In the UK and Ireland, about half of women aged 18-45 who were not taking supplements were deficient.

The situation was even worse in lower-income countries, where between 72 percent and 90 percent of women were deficient. Among children, riboflavin levels tended to get worse with age, especially in the UK, and deficiency rates in lower-income countries ranged from 39 percent to 75 percent. In some cases, such as in Uganda, children showed clear physical signs of deficiency.

Overall, the study concluded that riboflavin deficiency is a major global public health issue, affecting both wealthy and poorer countries. Because low levels of this vitamin can harm health in many ways, the authors say that urgent action is needed to raise levels in populations worldwide.

To check out Dr. Rath’s recommendations for daily intake of riboflavin and other essential micronutrients, see this page on our website.