Recommended Daily Riboflavin Dose for Healthy Adults
For generally healthy adults, the recommended daily dose of riboflavin is 1.3 mg for males and 1.1 mg for females, with higher requirements of 1.4 mg during pregnancy and 1.6 mg during lactation. 1, 2
Standard Maintenance Dosing by Population
- Adult males: 1.3 mg/day 1, 2
- Adult females: 1.1 mg/day 1, 2
- Pregnant women: 1.4 mg/day 1, 2
- Lactating women: 1.6 mg/day 1, 2
These doses represent the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) established by the American College of Nutrition and are designed to maintain adequate tissue saturation and prevent deficiency in healthy individuals. 2
Dietary Sources to Meet Requirements
Riboflavin is readily available from enriched grains, cereals, meats, dairy products, fatty fish, eggs, and dark-green vegetables. 1 Since riboflavin is not stored in ample amounts in the body and is excreted in urine, a constant dietary supply is necessary. 1
When Higher Doses Are Needed
While the question asks about healthy adults, it's important to recognize that certain therapeutic situations require substantially higher doses:
- Suspected or confirmed deficiency: 5-10 mg/day orally until recovery 1, 2
- Severe clinical deficiency: IV administration of 160 mg for 4 days has been used successfully 1
- Migraine prophylaxis: 50-200 mg/day (unrelated to nutritional needs) 1
- Parenteral nutrition: 3.6-5 mg/day 1
Safety Profile
Riboflavin has an excellent safety profile with no established upper toxicity limit, as excess is excreted in urine. 2, 3 The most common side effect at standard doses is yellow-colored urine, which is harmless. 3 However, repeatedly consumed pharmacologic doses exceeding 100 mg have potential to form toxic peroxides and hepato/cytotoxic tryptophan-riboflavin adducts. 1, 3
Important Clinical Considerations
- Light sensitivity: All forms of riboflavin decompose after light exposure, so storage and handling must protect against photodegradation. 1
- No routine monitoring needed: For healthy adults taking standard RDA doses, routine monitoring of riboflavin status is not necessary. 2, 3
- Interaction with iron: Riboflavin is essential for proper iron handling and absorption, so adequate riboflavin status supports optimal iron metabolism. 1, 3