Vitamin B2 (therapeutic uses)
Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in energy production and the metabolism of fats and amino acids. It has therapeutic potential for various health conditions, with the most notable uses being for the management of migraine headaches and the prevention of cataracts. Research suggests that a high dosage of riboflavin (400 mg daily) can significantly reduce the frequency and duration of migraine attacks, making it a viable option for individuals seeking relief from this debilitating condition.
Additionally, while evidence on riboflavin for cataract prevention is not definitive, some studies indicate a potential benefit when combined with niacin. Riboflavin has also been explored for other conditions, such as sickle cell anemia and support for those living with HIV, but there is limited scientific backing for these uses. Although riboflavin is generally considered safe, absorption can be impacted by certain medications. This vitamin is naturally found in foods like dairy products, organ meats, nuts, and leafy greens, making it accessible through a balanced diet. Overall, riboflavin’s therapeutic applications are promising, particularly for migraines, while warranting further investigation for other potential benefits.
Vitamin B2 (therapeutic uses)
DEFINITION: Organic compound used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Migraine headaches
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Cataracts, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) support, sickle cell anemia, sports performance enhancement
Overview
Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is an essential nutrient required for life. This vitamin works with two enzymes critical to the body’s production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), its main energy source. Vitamin B2 is also used to process amino acids and fats and to activate vitamin B6, folic acid, niacin, and heme proteins. Some evidence suggests that riboflavin supplements may offer benefits for two illnesses: migraine headaches and cataracts.
Requirements and Sources
The official US and Canadian recommendations for daily intake of riboflavin are as follows:
Infants aged 0 to 6 months (0.3 mg) and 7 to 12 months (0.4 mg); children aged 1 to 3 years (0.5 mg), 4 to 8 years (0.6 mg), and 9 to 13 years (0.9 mg); males aged 14 years and older (1.3 mg); females aged 14 to 18 years (1.0 mg); women (1.1 mg); pregnant women (1.4 mg); and nursing women (1.6 mg).
Riboflavin is found in organ meats, such as liver, kidney, and heart, and in many vegetables, nuts, legumes, and leafy greens. The richest sources are torula (nutritional) yeast, brewer’s yeast, and calf liver. Almonds, milk, yogurt, clams, beef tenderloin, swiss cheese, wheat germ, wild rice, and mushrooms are also good sources.
Although serious riboflavin deficiencies are rare, slightly low levels can occur in children, older adults, and those in poverty. Oral contraceptives used in the 1970s and 1980s appeared to reduce levels of riboflavin. However, it is not clear whether modern versions of these medications, which contain much lower levels of estrogen, would have the same effect. Other risk factors for low levels of vitamin B2 include malabsorptive syndromes, anorexia, long-term barbituates, pregnancy, dialysis, or diarrhea.
Therapeutic Dosages
For migraine headaches, the typical recommended dosage of riboflavin is much higher than nutritional needs: 400 milligrams (mg) daily. For cataract prevention, riboflavin may be taken at the nutritional dosages described. Since the B vitamins tend to work together, many nutritional experts recommend taking B2 with other B vitamins, perhaps in the form of a B-complex supplement.
Therapeutic Uses
Preliminary evidence suggests that riboflavin supplements taken at high dosages may reduce the frequency of migraine headaches. One very large study suggests that riboflavin at nutritional doses may be helpful for cataracts, but in this study, it was combined with another B vitamin—niacin (vitamin B3)—so it is hard to say which vitamin was responsible for the effect. Riboflavin has also been proposed as a treatment for sickle cell anemia, for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and as a performance enhancer for athletes, but there is no real evidence that it is effective for these uses.
Scientific Evidence
Migraine headaches. According to a three-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of fifty-five people with migraines, riboflavin can significantly reduce the frequency and duration of migraine attacks. This study found that, when given a minimum of two months to work, a daily dose of riboflavin (400 mg) can produce dramatic migraine relief. The majority of the participants experienced a more than 50 percent decrease in the number of migraine attacks, as well as in the total days with headache pain. Though the role of riboflavin in treating and preventing headaches and migraines is not completely understood, research supports its use because of its relative success and apparent safety.
Cataracts. Riboflavin supplements may help prevent cataracts, but the evidence remains unclear. In a large double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 3,249 people were given either a placebo or one of four nutrient combinations (vitamin A/zinc, riboflavin/niacin, vitamin C/molybdenum, or selenium with beta-carotene and vitamin E) for six years. Those receiving the riboflavin/niacin supplement showed a significant (44 percent) reduction in the incidence of cataracts. However, it is unclear whether the benefits seen in this group came from the niacin, the riboflavin, or the combination of the two. There was a small but statistically significantly higher incidence of a special type of cataract, called a subcapsular cataract, in the niacin/riboflavin group. Individuals who consume a diet rich in riboflavin tend to have a lower incidence of cataracts. Those who take a riboflavin and niacin supplement develop fewer cataracts than those who do not. Still, the science behind this finding remains unclear.
Cardiovascular disease. Animal studies have shown that a long-term deficiency of riboflavin may result in heart disorders. This may be because vitamin B2 helps break down homocysteine, which can build up in the blood and increase one's risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite this correlation, the use of vitamin B2 to control or prevent CVD is not recommended by the American Heart Association due to a lack of confirmatory evidence.
Safety Issues
Riboflavin seems to be an extremely safe supplement because human kidney excretion of riboflavin is quite efficient. However, some medications, like anticonvulsants, anticholinergics, and phenothiazines, may decrease the body’s ability to absorb riboflavin.
Bibliography
"A Close Look at Each of the B Vitamins: Benefits, Food Sources and More." Cleveland Clinic, 8 Jan. 2024, health.clevelandclinic.org/b-vitamin-benefits. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Hanna, Mary, et al. “B Vitamins: Functions and Uses in Medicine.” The Permanente Journal, vol. 26, no. 2, 2022, pp. 89-97. doi:10.7812/TPP/21.204.
"Riboflavin – Vitamin B2." Harvard C. H. Chan, Mar. 2023, www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/riboflavin-vitamin-b2. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Schoenen J., J. Jacquy, and M. Lenaerts. “Effectiveness of High-Dose Riboflavin in Migraine Prophylaxis.” Neurology, vol. 50, 1998, pp. 466-70.
Tang, A. M, N. M. Graham, and A. J. Saah. “Effects of Micronutrient Intake on Survival in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection.” American Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 143, 1996, pp. 1244-56.