Subclinical riboflavin deficiency also happens more easily in women taking the contraceptive pill . It also may happen when people get old , or can not eat properly , or who have sicknesses such as AIDS , inflammatory bowel disease , diabetes and chronic heart disease . Subclinical riboflavin deficiency has also been observed in women taking oral contraceptives , in the elderly , in people with eating disorders , and in disease states such as HIV , inflammatory bowel disease , diabetes and chronic heart disease .