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Benefits of Vitamin B2
As an energy releaser, riboflavin promotes the production of energy in the brain's blood vessels. There is speculation, after some research, that supplements of riboflavin may be able to help reduce the number of migraine headaches a person gets.Riboflavin can help prevent cataracts, probably because of its close relationship with glutathione, an antioxidant. In a study of 408 Boston-area women, those who had the highest intake of riboflavin had the lowest level of cataract formation and lens opacity.
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Riboflavin supplements might help reduce the number of migraines a person gets. |
Older adult women who exercise have higher riboflavin needs than their sedentary counterparts. This makes sense because of riboflavin's role in coaxing energy out of food. Supplementing helped prevent low blood levels, but didn't seem to alter endurance capacity in the women studied.
Large doses of riboflavin are not toxic. For general health purposes, 5 to 10 mg per day is adequate. The body may only be able to absorb 20 mg at any one time. Because of its fluorescent yellow quality, large doses will turn the urine bright yellow for several hours after ingesting it.
Dairy products are an excellent source of riboflavin, as are some meats and leafy green vegetables. Go to the next page to find out more about foods that contain riboflavin.
Riboflavin is just one piece in the puzzle when it comes to vital nutrients. Check out these links to learn more about the vitamins your body needs to maintain overall health.
- Vitamin A, or retinol, plays a vital role in vision. Learn more in How Vitamin A Works.
- A vitamin B1, or thiamin, deficiency results in the disease beriberi. Learn more in How Vitamin B1 Works.
- Vitamin B3, or niacin, acts as a coenzyme, assisting other substances in the conversion of food into energy. Learn more in How Vitamin B3 Works.
- In How Vitamin E Works, learn about this important antioxidant with far-reaching health benefits.
- Vitamin K is important in allowing your blood to clot properly. Learn more in How Vitamin K Works.
- To learn about the many vitamins in our diet, how much you should be eating, and where to find them, go to our general Vitamins page.
- To find the best prices on vitamin B2 supplements, click here.
