Vitamin B2 – Riboflavin

Vitamin B2 metabolizes carbohydrates, fats, and proteins so that our body can turn glucose into energy used for all sorts of body functions. It has a huge place in the Krebs cycle  –  the process your body uses to turn blood sugar into ATP, our energy molecule. Consider it like a vehicle using fuel.

Vitamin B2 is important in some of the functions of our liver. It metabolizes different supplements and medications. Riboflavin is also very important in the development and use of glutathione, the biggest detoxification compound our body makes in the liver. B2 not only helps develop glutathione, but it also regenerates it so that your body can rid itself of toxins.

One of the biggest things that I have talked about with B2 over the years is its role in our cognitive function. There are many studies that show B2 is necessary in order to protect us from Alzheimer’s and dementia but also to keep our brains clear unable to think as we age. Riboflavin also helps with dopamine and serotonin metabolism which leads to stabilizing our moods. It has been found to reduce anxiety and improve depressive thoughts.

Recent studies have  found that riboflavin is very important in the metabolism of minerals, especially iron. Without B2, the body cannot break down iron from food, thus you can become anemic because the body does not have the riboflavin it needs to break the iron down. This causes a decrease in the number of red blood cells in your body leading to fatigue and muscle weakness.

Riboflavin is also a huge antioxidant in the body helping remove oxidative stress throughout the body, especially in the brain.

An interesting recent discovery about riboflavin is its role in those who have the gene mutation MTHFR, a very common gene mutation that interferes with the methylation process. Methylation is critical for detoxification, brain function and cardiovascular health. A good write up explaining methylation can be found at https://fullscript.com/blog/methylation.

 Those with the MTHFR gene are more prone to an increase in homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is an inflammatory marker that has been shown to be correlated with an increased risk for heart attack or stroke. Riboflavin actually helps lower homocysteine levels and reduces blood pressure in those with the MTHFR gene mutation.

Vitamin B2 is also a critical part of the metabolism of the other B vitamins folate, B6, and niacin, as well as iron as mentioned above. Riboflavin has also been linked to DNA repair.

As you can see, vitamin B2 is a critical part of our health even though it is not a nutrient that is talked about  in medical appointments and even more rarely checked on blood work.