to light, burning eyes, and gritty-feeling eyes. Some
researchers also believe that migraine headaches may
be triggered by riboflavin deficiency. Inadequate levels
of riboflavin may decrees the body’s ability to use iron,
zinc, folic acid, vitamin B 3 andvitamin B 12.PrecautionsRiboflavin appears to be safe in high doses and
also safe during pregnancy. Extended use of high-dose
riboflavin supplements may cause an imbalance with
other water-soluble vitamins, especially vitamin B 1.InteractionsCertain drugs appear to interfere with riboflavin’s
role in the chemical pathway that converts sugar to
energy. These drugs include chlorpromazine and
related anti-psychotic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants,
quinacrine, a drug used to prevent malaria, and dox-
orubicin (Adriamycin), a drug used in cancer chemo-
therapy. Long-term use of phenobarbitol seems to
increase the rate of destruction of riboflavin by the
liver.Complications
No complications are expected from riboflavin
use. However, for most people, taking riboflavin as a
high-dose dietary supplement does not provide any
benefits.Parental concerns
Parents should be aware that the riboflavin stores
in newborns treated with light therapy for jaundice are
rapidly depleted. Parents of these newborns should
discuss the need for a short-term riboflavin supple-
ment with their pediatrician.Resources
BOOKS
Berkson, Burt and Arthur J. Berkson.Basic Health Publi-
cations User’s Guide to the B-complex Vitamins.Laguna
Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, 2006.
Gaby, Alan R., ed.A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Inter-
actions Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition: Improve
Your Health and Avoid Side Effects When Using Com-
mon Medications and Natural Supplements Together.
New York: Three Rivers Press, 2006.
Lieberman, Shari and Nancy Bruning.The Real Vitamin and
Mineral Book: The Definitive Guide to Designing Your
Personal Supplement Program,4th ed. New York:
Avery, 2007.Pressman, Alan H. and Sheila Buff.The Complete Idiot’s
Guide to Vitamins and Minerals,3rd ed. Indianapolis,
IN: Alpha Books, 2007.
Rucker, Robert B., ed.Handbook of Vitamins.Boca Raton,
FL: Taylor & Francis, 2007.
ORGANIZATIONS
American Dietetic Association. 120 South Riverside Plaza,
Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995. Telephone:
(800) 877-1600. Website:<http://www.eatright.org>
Linus Pauling Institute. Oregon State University, 571
Weniger Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-6512. Telephone:
(541) 717-5075. Fax: (541) 737-5077. Website:<http://
lpi.oregonstate.edu>
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of
Health. 6100 Executive Blvd., Room 3B01, MSC 7517,
Bethesda, MD 20892-7517 Telephone: (301)435-2920.
Fax: (301)480-1845. Website:<http://dietary-
supplements.info.nih.gov>
OTHER
Higdon, Jane. ‘‘Riboflavin.’’ Linus Pauling Institute-Oregon
State University, September 19, 2002.<http://lpi.ore-
gonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/riboflavin>
Harvard School of Public Health. ‘‘Vitamins.’’ Harvard Uni-
versity, November 10, 2006.<http://www.hsph.harvard
.edu/nutritionsource/vitamins.html>
Maryland Medical Center Programs Center for Integrative
Medicine. ‘‘Vitamin B 2 (Riboflavin).’’ University of
Maryland Medical Center, April 2002.<http://
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/
VitaminB2Riboflavincs.html>
Medline Plus. ‘‘Riboflavin (Vitamin B 2 ).’’ U. S. National
Library of Medicine, August 1, 2006.<http://
http://www.nlm.nih/gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/
patient-riboflavin.html>
Tsiouris, Nikolaos and Frederick H. Ziel. ‘‘Riboflavin
Deficiency.’’ emedicine.com, November 15, 2002.
<http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2031.htm>Tish Davidson, A.M.Rice-based diets
Definition
Rice is the most important cereal crop for human
consumption. It is the staple food for over 3 billion
people (most of them economically challenged) con-
stituting over half of the world’s population.Origins
All of the world’s great civilizations developed
only after the domestication of various cereal grains,Rice-based diets