Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) in Pregnancy – Benefits and Recommended Intake

Riboflavin or vitamin B2, is one of those unsung heroes of pregnancy nutrition—but what makes it so important? Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) in pregnancy goes beyond just boosting energy; it quietly supports crucial processes that benefit both you and your growing baby. While you may have heard about its role in maintaining healthy skin and vision, there’s much more to discover. How exactly does it work? What are the best ways to make sure you’re getting enough? And could a deficiency be affecting you without you even realising it? Before you brush it off as just another vitamin on the list, let’s dive into why riboflavin deserves your attention during these nine transformative months.

What Is Riboflavin?

Riboflavin is a vitamin that comes under the Vitamin B group. The body requires it to metabolise fat and protein (1). It also helps in converting carbohydrates into glucose, which is required to energise the body. Riboflavin is found in many of our daily food items, but since it is soluble in water, it gets easily drained out of the body. Hence, it is important to include food items rich in Vitamin B2 in your daily diet. It helps treat migraines and corneal ectasia.

Importance of Vitamin B2 in Pregnancy

Riboflavin or Vitamin B2 is extremely important during pregnancy. The following are the reasons why you should increase your intake of Vitamin B2 during pregnancy (2).

• Morning sickness and nausea can make you tired during pregnancy. But taking Vitamin B2-rich foods or supplements in the right amounts can help you combat fatigue and make you feel energised.
• It helps in the development of the baby’s bones, nervous system, and muscles in the womb.
• The deficiency of this vitamin may trigger preeclampsia or increase the chances of the baby having birth defects.
• Riboflavin helps in the absorption of iron, which prevents anaemia during pregnancy.
• It also prevents muscle cramping, which is quite common during pregnancy.
• It supports collagen production and eye health for both mom and baby.
• It helps maintain a healthy digestive tract, easing common pregnancy discomforts.

Recommended Daily Intake for Pregnant Women

Vitamin B2 supplement during pregnancy should be taken only if it is prescribed by your doctor. Other than that, the body gets enough Riboflavin in pregnancy through a healthy diet and the multivitamin prescribed by your doctor during pregnancy. Generally, about 1.2 – 1.3 milligrams of Vitamin B2 is recommended. However, during pregnancy, an increase of 0.3 – 0.4 milligrams in the daily intake is usually suggested (3).

Riboflavin Deficiency

The deficiency of riboflavin occurs when our diet lacks the generally recommended amount of Vitamin B2. This causes skin lesions, lesions in the digestive tract, or sometimes neurological disorders.

Some of the symptoms of Vitamin B2 disorder include (4):

• Fissuring and dry scaling of the surface of the lips
• Swelling of the lips
• Ulcers and cracks on the corners of the mouth
• Rashes and scaly skin on the scrotum and vulva
• Tongue ulcers
• Very sensitive, red and itchy eyes
• Numb hands
• A neurological disorder that leads to less sensitivity to touch and temperature

Food Sources of Vitamin B2

A lot many food items used in the Indian kitchen are a good source of riboflavin. Some of them are listed below. If you are pregnant, you can make these food items a part of your diet, however, consult with your dietician before consuming (5).

• Sesame seeds
• Peanuts
• Soybean seeds
• Pistachio
• Mustard seeds
• Cashew nuts
• Capsicum
• Cowpeas
• Skimmed milk powder
• Bengal gram
• Moong dal
• Moth beans
• Walnuts
• Wheat
• Red lentils
• Black gram
• Horse gram
• Finger millet
• Maize
• Yoghurt
• Eggs
• Spinach
• Almonds
• Mushrooms
• Kidney beans

FAQs

Some of the frequently asked questions on riboflavin during pregnancy are as follows.

1. Who is at risk of riboflavin deficiency?

Pregnant women, particularly vegetarians, who suffer from lactose or gluten intolerance or have eating disorders like anorexia, are likely to have riboflavin deficiency.

2. Is it safe to take riboflavin supplements during pregnancy?

Vitamin B2 supplements should only be taken after consulting a doctor or only if prescribed by the doctor.

3. Is it necessary to eat riboflavin-rich foods every day during pregnancy?

Riboflavin, being water-soluble, gets flushed out of the body through urine, bile, and sweat. The body is unable to store much of it. Therefore, it is essential to eat riboflavin-rich foods every day.

4. Can you take vitamin B2 supplements while pregnant?

Vitamin B2 supplements during pregnancy can be taken only if it has been prescribed by the doctor. Otherwise, a healthy diet that includes green leafy vegetables, meat, grains, cereals, skimmed milk, yoghurt, nuts, eggs, and the prenatal multivitamin supplements prescribed by the doctor is sufficient to meet the daily recommended riboflavin dosage for pregnant women.

5. What happens if you take too much vitamin B2 during pregnancy?

Since riboflavin is water-soluble, it gets drained out of the body through urine, sweat, and bile. Therefore, there is rarely a chance of the body having an excess of it. However, an overdose of riboflavin during pregnancy may lead to:

• diarrhoea
• frequent urination
• sensitivity to light
• allergic reactions like hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or the face
• in rare cases, one may suffer from a severe allergic reaction or respiratory problems

This was all about vitamin B2 and pregnancy. Although having a normal level of riboflavin is mandatory during pregnancy, overdoing it by taking additional supplements may cause health complications. It may pose a risk to you as well as your baby in the womb. So, take it in optimal amounts and if you have any doubts, you can always consult your doctor.

References/Resources:

1. National Institutes of Health – Riboflavin

2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – FAQs: Nutrition During Pregnancy

3. National Academies Press – Riboflavin

4. Oregon State University – Riboflavin

5. EatRight.org – What Are B Vitamins?

Also Read: 

Vitamin B6 in Pregnancy
Vitamin B1 while Pregnant
Vitamin E during Pregnancy
Taking Vitamin B3 in Pregnancy