Vitamin B2 is effective for riboflavin deficiency, migraine headaches, lowering the risk of developing cataracts and cardiovascular diseases.
- Introduction to Vitamin B2
- Health Benefits of Vitamin B2
- 1) Vitamin B2 is a Mild Anti-inflammatory
- 2) Vitamin B2 Helps Prevent Cognitive Decline
- 3) Vitamin B2 Consumption Reduces Depression
- 4) Vitamin B2 Protects the Eye
- 5) Vitamin B2 Prevents Cardiovascular Disease
- 6) Vitamin B2 May Prevent Cancer
- 7) Vitamin B2 Plays a Protective Role in Bones
- 8) Vitamin B2 Protects the Liver
- 9) Vitamin B2 Protects Against Autoimmune Disorders
- 10) Vitamin B2 Reduces Nightly Leg Cramps
- 11) Vitamin B2 Helps with Pregnancy
- Vitamin B2 Deficiencies
- Side Effects
Introduction to Vitamin B2
Vitamin B2, also known as Riboflavin, is a vitamin that plays an integral role in the body as it helps with B6 metabolism, and can help combat different disorders.
It plays a vital role in the human body by working with other micronutrients.
Health Benefits of Vitamin B2
1) Vitamin B2 is a Mild Anti-inflammatory
Riboflavin significantly reduces the expression of HMGB1 (high-mobility group protein B1), which is one of the factors responsible for inflammation in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (sepsis) in mice (R).
Under various circumstances, it shows anti-inflammatory properties (R).
2) Vitamin B2 Helps Prevent Cognitive Decline
Riboflavin is associated with improved cognitive test scores in primary school children in rural Kenya (R).
Higher intake of B2 is associated with better abstract performance (R).
Riboflavin is a safe and well-tolerated option for treating migraines in adults (R).
Riboflavin treatment in a 16-year-old boy with L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (LHGuria), a rare neurometabolic disorder improved his cognitive function (R).
3) Vitamin B2 Consumption Reduces Depression
In many depressed subjects, there was a concurrent Riboflavin deficiency (R).
In elderly, depressed patients, B vitamins (B1, B2, and B6) improved depression (R).
In a Japanese cross-sectional study, increased intake of Riboflavin meant decreased symptoms of depression in girls but not for boys (R).
Consumption of Riboflavin prevents depression after childbirth (R).
4) Vitamin B2 Protects the Eye
Increased consumption of Riboflavin leads to a significant decrease in age-related cataracts (R).
Consumption also leads to less age-related opacity in the eyes (R).
5) Vitamin B2 Prevents Cardiovascular Disease
Elderly who had oral Riboflavin supplementation had reduced homocysteine, which causes heart disease (R).
Riboflavin and folate work together to reduce homocysteine levels (R).
6) Vitamin B2 May Prevent Cancer
Riboflavin consumption (in addition to vitamin B6) reduces colorectal cancer risk in postmenopausal women (R).
7) Vitamin B2 Plays a Protective Role in Bones
B2 and other B vitamin play a protective role in bone health (R).
In an experimental study, those who had the lowest intake of Riboflavin had a higher chance of getting fractures (R).
Increased intake of Riboflavin leads to more bone mass density in the neck (R).
8) Vitamin B2 Protects the Liver
Riboflavin may be used as a liver-protective agent against toxic effects of CCl4 and other chemical agents in the liver (R).
Riboflavin also reduces liver injury following liver ischemia and reperfusion in mice (R).
9) Vitamin B2 Protects Against Autoimmune Disorders
In a case study, B2 treatment was effective in treating a progressive neurological disorder (Brown–Vialetto–Van Laere syndrome 2) (R).
In mice, B2 helped suppress a motor disability model after the autoimmune disorder, multiple sclerosis (R).
10) Vitamin B2 Reduces Nightly Leg Cramps
B2 (along with other B vitamins) helped reduce the length, pain intensity, and frequency of nocturnal leg cramps in the elderly (R).
11) Vitamin B2 Helps with Pregnancy
In mice, vitamin B2 supplementation lead to more pregnancy, more weight of the pups, and increased hemoglobin (R).
- B2 deficiency is related to a rise in lactate (indicative of a problem in metabolism) (R).
- HMG-1 is a nuclear protein which, after being released to the intercellular space, has a highly pro-inflammatory effect and acts as a late mediator of lethal damage (R).
- Low levels of thyroxine seen in psychiatric patients with B2 deficiency is indicative of a mental illness (R).
The recommended allowance of Vitamin B2 is 1.3mg/day for men and 1.1mg/day for women (R).
The daily recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) of riboflavin (Vitamin B2) are (R):
- Infants 0-6 months, 0.3 mg
- 7-12 months, 0.4 mg
- children 1-3 years, 0.5 mg
- 4-8 years, 0.6 mg
- 9-13 years, 0.9 mg
- men 14 years or older, 1.3 mg
- women 14-18 years, 1 mg
- women over 18 years, 1.1 mg
- pregnant women, 1.4 mg; and breastfeeding women, 1.6 mg.
Vitamin B2 Deficiencies
When iron intake is low, deficiency in B2 may facilitate the development of anemia (R).
Vitamin B2 is a cause of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) (R).
In elderly men with diabetes mellitus, cognitive decline is associated with low intakes of B2 (R).
Riboflavin is Likely safe when taken by mouth. In some people, it can cause the urine turn yellow-orange in color. When taken in high amounts it may cause diarrhea and increased urine (R).
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