The draft proposes dietary reference values (DRV) for riboflavin in adults, infants and children, pregnant and lactating women – suggesting that average riboflavin requirements range from 1.3 mg/day for adults.
“PRIs are derived for adults and children assuming a coefficient of variation of 10%, in the absence of information on the variability in the requirement and to account for the potential effect of physical activity and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677TT genotype,” states the EFSA draft document.
The highest average requirement (AR) in the new guidance is for pregnant and lactating women – with ARs of 1.5mg/d and 1.7mg/d respectively recommended to account for foetal uptake and riboflavin accretion in the placenta during pregnancy or the losses through breast milk.
For children of both sexes aged 1–17 years, ARs range between 0.5 and 1.4 mg/day.
EFSA also suggests further research should be undertaken in the following areas:
- biomarkers of riboflavin intake and status, and their dose–response relationship with riboflavin intake
- the standardisation of EGRAC measurement, its relationship with urinary excretion of riboflavin and the cut-off value for EGRAC to assess adequacy for riboflavin
- the requirement for riboflavin in some population groups e.g. infants, children, pregnant or lactating women and the potential influence of age and sex
- the effect of physical activity and energy expenditure on riboflavin requirement
- the quantification of the effect of genetic polymorphism on riboflavin requirement
As part of the public consultation process, relevant stakeholders and interested parties are invited to submit written comments by 28 May 2017, said EFSA. Further information on the comments process can be found on the EFSA website by following this link.