Final answer:
Side effects of riboflavin deficiency chiefly include lesions, cheilosis, dermatitis, magenta tongue, and potential eye issues, while systemically, it can cause anemia, growth problems, and may contribute to fatigue and weakness due to metabolic disruption.
Step-by-step explanation:
Deficiencies in riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, can lead to several health issues. Although riboflavin is widely distributed in various foods and deficiency is rare, when it occurs it may cause a range of symptoms. Key manifestations of riboflavin deficiency include characteristic lesions of the lips, fissures at the angles of the mouth (cheilosis), dermatitis of the face, a magenta tongue, and certain functional and organic disorders of the eye. In terms of systemic effects, riboflavin deficiency can lead to anemia and growth issues.
The deficiency can also impair the regulatory functions of some hormones concerned with carbohydrate metabolism. However, in the context of the student's options for their question, the most relevant side effects of riboflavin deficiency might be the impact on metabolic function, potentially contributing to feelings of fatigue and weakness due to disrupted energy production.
Other vitamins like thiamine, niacin, and vitamin B6 deficiencies also show neurological and mood-related symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and irritability, which can be similar to the mood changes potentially associated with riboflavin deficiency. As the signs of deficiency often overlap with other conditions, it is important to consider a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment.