ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the relevant research concerning the effects of physical activity on riboflavin status, as well as recent evidence for the use of riboflavin as a performance enhancer. Riboflavin is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin found in animal and vegetable products. The primary food sources of riboflavin include: eggs, lean meats, milk, dairy products, broccoli and enriched breads and cereals. Riboflavin deficiency can lead to a variety of clinical abnormalities including degenerative changes in the nervous system, anemia, endocrine dysfunction and skin disorders, and can lead to an increase in the susceptibility to carcinogens. Assessment of riboflavin status should include direct and indirect biochemical measures, as well as dietary intake data. The hypothesis that athletes may have compromised riboflavin status seems plausible because many studies have indicated that exercise alters biochemical indices of riboflavin status. A series of well documented studies conducted by A. Z. Belko et al. examined exercise as an influence on riboflavin requirements.
