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Overview :
Certain patients are at risk for developing riboflavin
(vitamin B2) deficiency or for maintaining low vitamin levels. A patient with
one or more of these findings should be considered for a further evaluation of
riboflavin status.
General:
(1) elderly
(2) chronic alcohol abuse
(3) presence of other vitamin deficiencies
Decreased intake:
(1)
starvation, negative nitrogen balance or malnutrition
(2)
anorexia
(3) diet
low in dairy products, green leafy vegetables, vitamin supplements, riboflavin
enriched products, and animal protein
(4) lactose
intolerance (due to avoidance of dairy products)
Decreased absorption:
(1) malabsorption
(2) chronic diarrhea
Increased utilization or loss:
(1) heavy
exercise
(2) heat
stress
(3)
systemic infection
(4) drugs
(antibiotics, phenothiazines, barbiturates, chlorpromazine, tricyclic
antidepressants)
(5) inborn
errors of metabolism affecting formation of flavoproteins
(6) phototherapy in newborn infants
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