Vitamin B2, Whole Blood

Diagnostic Use

There are three principal vitamin B2-active flavins found in nature: riboflavin, riboflavin 5-phosphate (flavin mononucleotide: FMN), and riboflavin-5'-adenosyl-diphosphate (flavin adenosine dinucleotide: FAD (reported) ). In biological tissues, FMN and FAD serve as prosthetic groups for a large variety of flavoproteins, which are hydrogen carriers in oxidation-reduction processes.

Dietary deficiency of riboflavin (ariboflavinosis) is characterized by sore throat, cheilosis, angular stomatitis, glossitis, corneal vascularization, dyssebacia (red, scaly, greasy patches on the nose, eyelids, scrotum, and labia), and normocytic, normochromic anaemia. Severe riboflavin deficiency may affect the conversion of vitamin B6 to its coenzyme, as well as conversion of tryptophan to niacin. There is also evidence that more subtle riboflavin deficiency might have negative health consequences. In addition to dietary deficiency, there are rare inborn errors of metabolism, primarily involving loss of function of riboflavin transporters, which present with neurodegenerative features.

Riboflavin has a low level of toxicity and no case of riboflavin toxicity in humans has been reported.

Department

Lipids/Trace Metals

Delphic Registration Code

VB2

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

1 x EDTA (lavender), wrap in foil, send to lab immediately.

Registration

Send whole blood to trace metals - freezer.

Separating

Do not separate.

Laboratory

Must be whole blood.

Test Adds

Whole blood frozen 28 days, light protected

Synonyms

FAD
Flavine Adenine Dinucleotide
Riboflavin

Turnaround Time

3 weeks

Test Code

3879