Riboflavin
What it is · too little · too much · daily reference values by country
For reference only. This is not a diagnosis or a prescription. If you have concerns, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
What it is
- Riboflavin takes part in energy metabolism, cell function, growth and development, and the metabolism of lipids, steroids, and drugs. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
- Riboflavin is a water-soluble organic compound which belongs to the group of B-vitamins. It contributes to energy metabolism, metabolic pathways, and the formation of some vitamins and coenzymes. (European Food Safety Authority)
Getting too little
- Typical manifestations of riboflavin deficiency include angular stomatitis, cheilitis, glossitis, and seborrheic dermatitis, and reduced beta-oxidation of fatty acids may lead to fatty liver. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
- Riboflavin deficiency results in nonspecific symptoms, including sore throat, excess blood or fluid in pharyngeal and oral mucous membranes, and others. (European Food Safety Authority)
Getting too much
- Most riboflavin is excreted in the urine within a short time, so its toxicity is known to be low. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
Daily reference values by country
Korea · US · EU — tap to open
These tables are daily reference values for healthy people. Numbers in the text above are a different kind of value, and you cannot diagnose yourself from them. How to read RDA, AI and UL
Korea — 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (Ministry of Health and Welfare)
| Group | EAR | RNI | AI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5 months | 0.3 mg | ||
| 6–11 months | 0.4 mg | ||
| 1–2 years | 0.4 mg | 0.5 mg | |
| 3–5 years | 0.5 mg | 0.6 mg | |
| Male · 6–8 years | 0.7 mg | 0.9 mg | |
| Male · 9–11 years | 0.9 mg | 1.1 mg | |
| Male · 12–14 years | 1.2 mg | 1.5 mg | |
| Male · 15–18 years | 1.4 mg | 1.7 mg | |
| Male · 19–29 years | 1.3 mg | 1.5 mg | |
| Male · 30–49 years | 1.3 mg | 1.5 mg | |
| Male · 50–64 years | 1.3 mg | 1.5 mg | |
| Male · 65–74 years | 1.2 mg | 1.4 mg | |
| Male · 75+ years | 1.1 mg | 1.4 mg | |
| Female · 6–8 years | 0.6 mg | 0.8 mg | |
| Female · 9–11 years | 0.8 mg | 1 mg | |
| Female · 12–14 years | 1 mg | 1.2 mg | |
| Female · 15–18 years | 1 mg | 1.2 mg | |
| Female · 19–29 years | 1 mg | 1.2 mg | |
| Female · 30–49 years | 1 mg | 1.2 mg | |
| Female · 50–64 years | 1 mg | 1.2 mg | |
| Female · 65–74 years | 0.9 mg | 1.1 mg | |
| Female · 75+ years | 0.8 mg | 1 mg | |
| Pregnancy | +0.3 mg | +0.4 mg | |
| Lactation | +0.4 mg | +0.5 mg |
US — NASEM (National Academies)
| Group | EAR | RDA | AI | UL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 years | 0.4 mg | 0.5 mg | — | |
| 4–8 years | 0.5 mg | 0.6 mg | — | |
| Male · 9–13 years | 0.8 mg | 0.9 mg | — | |
| Male · 14–18 years | 1.1 mg | 1.3 mg | — | |
| Male · 19–30 years | 1.1 mg | 1.3 mg | — | |
| Male · 31–50 years | 1.1 mg | 1.3 mg | — | |
| Male · 51–70 years | 1.1 mg | 1.3 mg | — | |
| Male · 71+ years | 1.1 mg | 1.3 mg | — | |
| Female · 9–13 years | 0.8 mg | 0.9 mg | — | |
| Female · 14–18 years | 0.9 mg | 1 mg | — | |
| Female · 19–30 years | 0.9 mg | 1.1 mg | — | |
| Female · 31–50 years | 0.9 mg | 1.1 mg | — | |
| Female · 51–70 years | 0.9 mg | 1.1 mg | — | |
| Female · 71+ years | 0.9 mg | 1.1 mg | — | |
| Pregnancy · 14–18 years | 1.2 mg | 1.4 mg | — | |
| Pregnancy · 19–30 years | 1.2 mg | 1.4 mg | — | |
| Pregnancy · 31–50 years | 1.2 mg | 1.4 mg | — | |
| Lactation · 14–18 years | 1.3 mg | 1.6 mg | — | |
| Lactation · 19–30 years | 1.3 mg | 1.6 mg | — | |
| Lactation · 31–50 years | 1.3 mg | 1.6 mg | — | |
| 0–6 months | 0.3 mg | — | ||
| 7–12 months | 0.4 mg | — |
EU — EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)
| Group | AR | PRI | AI | UL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7–11 months | 0.4 mg | |||
| 1–3 years | 0.5 mg | 0.6 mg | ||
| 4–6 years | 0.6 mg | 0.7 mg | ||
| 7–10 years | 0.8 mg | 1 mg | ||
| 11–14 years | 1.1 mg | 1.4 mg | ||
| 15–17 years | 1.4 mg | 1.6 mg | ||
| 18+ years | 1.3 mg | 1.6 mg | — | |
| Pregnancy · 18–60 years | 1.5 mg | 1.9 mg | ||
| Lactation · 18–60 years | 1.7 mg | 2 mg | ||
| Pregnancy · 18+ years | — | |||
| Lactation · 18+ years | — |
Sources
- EFSA DRV Finder (Dietary Reference Values) · checked 2026-10-07
- EFSA DRV Finder — nutrient descriptions · checked 2026-10-07
- EFSA Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (v11, August 2025) · checked 2026-10-07
- 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans, Vol. 2: Vitamins (Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare · The Korean Nutrition Society; in Korean) · checked 2026-10-07
- 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans — summary tables (Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare · The Korean Nutrition Society; in Korean) · checked 2026-10-07
- NASEM Dietary Reference Intakes summary tables (Appendix J, 2019) · checked 2026-10-07
The sentences are plain-language summaries of official sources written by SuppleBoard. Each English sentence was checked against the source text by an AI reviewer before publishing. The agencies do not endorse this site. Published 2026-10-16.