Can children take vitamin B2?

Vitamin B2 is an essential nutrient for the human body. Vitamin B2 deficiency is a common nutritional deficiency disease. It is relatively common. The symptoms of vitamin B2 deficiency include scrotal dermatitis, erosions at the corners of the mouth, and seborrheic dermatitis. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement the body with enough vitamin B2 on a regular basis. Many parents are worried that their children are deficient in vitamin B2. Can children take vitamin B2? Let’s take a look at it next.

1. Can children take vitamin B2?

1. It can be taken orally in appropriate amounts and is more completely absorbed after meals.

2. It should not be taken together with metoclopramide.

3. Interference with diagnosis: Fluorescence determination of catecholamine concentration in urine may show a false increase, and urobilinogen determination may show a false positive.

4. Drinking alcohol (ethanol) affects the intestinal absorption of vitamin B2. 5. When preventing and treating vitamin B2 deficiency, it is recommended to use vitamin B complex because it is often accompanied by deficiency of other B vitamins.

2. Vitamin B2 deficiency

Vitamin B2 deficiency is a common nutritional deficiency disease, and its prevalence is very high among the population in some developing countries. Common clinical symptoms include scrotal dermatitis, erosion of the corners of the mouth, seborrheic dermatitis, conjunctival congestion, photophobia, tearing, etc. The mechanism of skin and mucous membrane damage caused by vitamin B2 deficiency may be that riboflavin deficiency can cause B6 deficiency under certain conditions. Deficiency of both vitamins can cause skin and mucous membrane damage by affecting the maturation process of skin collagen.

3. Overview

Vitamin B2 deficiency is caused by insufficient supply of riboflavin. It is characterized by angular cheilitis, glossitis, conjunctivitis and dermatitis. Riboflavin is a heat-resistant, water-soluble B vitamin that is a component of many respiratory enzyme systems in the human body. It exists in foods together with niacin and other heat-resistant B vitamins, such as animal heart, liver, kidney, eggs, milk, yeast, beans and fresh vegetables. Therefore, riboflavin deficiency often occurs simultaneously with deficiencies of other B vitamins, and is especially closely related to niacin deficiency. If the food lacks animal protein and fresh vegetables for a long time, or the rice is over-washed or the milk for the baby is boiled multiple times, etc. Both can lead to riboflavin deficiency. Furthermore, when suffering from wasting diseases such as burns, trauma, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and long-term fever, the body's metabolism is accelerated, consumption increases, and a larger amount of riboflavin is needed. In addition, riboflavin is absorbed in the intestines, and chronic gastrointestinal diseases such as repeated vomiting and diarrhea can affect the absorption of riboflavin.

Vitamin B2 deficiency, also known as riboflavin deficiency, is a clinical syndrome caused by a lack of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) in the body, with scrotitis, cheilitis, glossitis and angular cheilitis as the main manifestations. Smoking can lead to a massive loss of vitamin B2, and severe deficiency can cause eye diseases. "Red eyes" (the whites of the eyes are very red, a bit like conjunctivitis, but not conjunctivitis.

4. Causes

(1) Insufficient intake: Riboflavin is found in milk, meat, eggs, beans, cereals, root vegetables and green leafy vegetables. The average daily requirement for adults is 1.4 to 1.7 mg for men and 1.2 to 1.3 mg for women. The requirement for pregnant women and nursing mothers increases with increased exercise and energy consumption. Insufficient intake of animal protein and fresh green leafy vegetables can lead to vitamin B2 malnutrition. Riboflavin is light-sensitive and can rapidly undergo irreversible degradation under ultraviolet light. Therefore, keeping foods such as bottled milk away from light can preserve the biological activity of vitamin B2. Phototherapy for newborn infants with hyperbilirubinemia may result in partial decomposition of riboflavin. In addition, riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin and can be lost due to excessive washing or in the soup. Riboflavin is easily destroyed in an alkaline environment. For example, adding sodium bicarbonate to vegetables during cooking to keep them green can destroy the biological activity of riboflavin.

(ii) Absorption disorders Certain diseases such as severe chronic diarrhea and surgical resection of large parts of the small intestine can lead to riboflavin malabsorption. In addition, alcoholics also suffer from vitamin B2 deficiency due to reduced intestinal absorption and decreased bioavailability.

(iii) Effects of drugs and metals Certain psychoactive drugs, various antimalarial drugs, many metals and other substances can affect the biological activity of vitamins.

(iv) Hormone imbalance such as hypothyroidism.

(V) Increased excretion: When negative nitrogen is low, including diabetes, after stopping insulin, or after taking certain drugs, such as boric acid, or long-term use of thiamine preparations, riboflavin excretion may also increase. Under conditions of high fever, fasting, etc., the excretion volume may also increase reactively.