Riboflavin and its derivatives,
flavin mononucleotide (
FMN) and
flavin adenine dinucleotide (
FAD), are key components of mitochondrial
energy metabolism and
oxidation-reduction reactions. Proposed
dietary reference intakes for
Koreans (KDRIs), that is, estimated average requirements (
EARs), for
riboflavin, based on current
knowledge of
riboflavin and
riboflavin derivative levels, and
glutathione reductase activity, are 1.3 mg/d for
men aged 19–64 years and 1.0 mg/d for
women aged 19–64 years. By applying a coefficient of variance of 10%, reference
nutrient intakes (RNIs) were set at 1.5 mg/d for
men aged 19-64 years and 1.2 mg/d for
women aged 19-64 years. Likewise,
EARs and RNIs of
riboflavin intake were proposed for all
age groups and
women in specific
life stages such as
pregnancy. Mean
adult riboflavin intake for
adults aged ≥ 19 years was 1.69 mg/d in
Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2020, which was 124.9% of
EAR according to the 2020 KDRIs. In the 2015-2017 KNHANES study, the mean
riboflavin intake from
foods and supplements was 2.79 mg/d for all
age groups, and 32.7% of individuals consumed less
riboflavin than
EAR according to the 2020 KDRIs. For those that used supplements, mean intakes were 1.50 mg/d for
riboflavin from
foods, 10.26 mg/d from supplements, and 11.76 mg/d from
food and supplements, and 5.5% of individuals consumed less
riboflavin than
EAR. Although the upper limit of
riboflavin has not been established, the merits of increasing supplement use warrant further consideration. Also, additional epidemiologic and intervention studies are required to explore the
role of
riboflavin in the
etiology of
chronic diseases.