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B29.0
Riboflavin Research
Likely helpsHigh safety
33 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Riboflavin appears to help in 9 of 11 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1998–2026 with a typical study size of 218 participants.
Based on 33 studies · 13 meta-analyses · 7 RCTs · 18,112 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
9helped2unclear· 22 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Migraine & headache
Likely helps24 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Likely helps8 studies
Women's healthEssential B vitamin for fetal development · Ongoing
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Heart & blood pressure
Too few graded studies2 studies
Riboflavin status & anemia
Too few graded studies2 studies
Energy & fatigueSupported energy metabolism · 2-4 weeks
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 26 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
100%
across studies
People studied
18k
typical study: 218 people
Strongest designs
20
13 pooled, 7 randomised
Showed benefit
82%
9/11 studies
How long studies ran
1–3 months
1
3+ months
2
Populations Studied
General population5
Pregnant women4
Migraine patients3
Older adults2
Active research area
18 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2025
199820122026
1Periodontal disease reductionSystematic ReviewCited 2×n=8,959 · very large study2025
Conclusions: Across diverse populations, inadequate vitamin B complex intake-especially folate-was consistently linked to worse periodontal outcomes.
Buzatu R et al. · Nutrients (2025)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
In older adults, each standard deviation increase in serum folate was associated with an approximate 26% reduction in periodontal disease odds ratio (OR = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58-0.93).
In a large NHANES-based cohort, insufficient thiamine (B1) intake yielded a 33% higher likelihood of severe periodontitis (p < 0.05), while adequate riboflavin was protective (OR = 0.90).
Another dose-response analysis (n = 8959) indicated up to a 30% risk reduction for moderate folate or B1 intake, but no extra benefit with excessive intake.
2B vitamin dietary adequacy trajectories with agingSystematic ReviewCited 3×n=3,119 · very large study2021
This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018104364).
Gillies N et al. · The British journal of nutrition (2021)
Riboflavin (seven studies, n 1953) inadequacy progressively increased with age; the prevalence of inadequacy increased from baseline by up to 22·6 and 9·3 % in males and females, respectively.
Dietary folate adequacy (three studies, n 2321) improved in two studies (by up to 22·4 %), but the third showed increasing (8·1 %) inadequacy.
Evidence was similarly limited (two studies, respectively) and inconsistent for vitamins B6 (n 559; −9·9 to 47·9 %) and B12 (n 1410; −4·6 to 7·2 %).
3Migraine frequency reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 22×n=673 · large study2022
A pooled analysis of available randomized controlled clinical trials demonstrated that Vitamin B2 400 mg/day for three months supplementation had significant effect on days, duration, frequency, and pain score of migraine attacks.
A pooled analysis of available randomized controlled clinical trials demonstrated that Vitamin B2 400 mg/day for three months supplementation had significant effect on days, duration, frequency, and pain score of migraine attacks.
5Hidradenitis suppurativa regressionSystematic ReviewCited 60×n=1,279 · large study2020
Prospective randomized controlled trials should validate these findings.
Sivanand A et al. · Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery (2020)
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a common inflammatory disorder characterized by recurrent, painful, and malodorous abscesses and nodules predominantly in skin folds.
Patient-controlled weight loss and bariatric surgery were associated with HS regression, though a subset of patients with significant increase in panniculi experienced exacerbations and required excision of excess skin.
Diets demonstrating benefit eliminated dairy and brewer's yeast.
The use of certain dietary supplements has resulted in a significant decrease in migraine prophylaxis.
Talandashti MK et al. · Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (2025)
In adults, compared with placebo, these supplements did not significantly affect other outcomes, and omega-3 supplementation did not yield a statistically significant reduction in any of these outcomes.
The use of certain dietary supplements has resulted in a significant decrease in migraine prophylaxis.
Further clinical trials of high quality appear to be beneficial.
7Nutrient intake assessmentSystematic ReviewCited 13×n=218 · medium study2023
High-quality, representative, and recent data are needed to evaluate the nutrient intake of pregnant women in order to make accurate assessments and evaluations, supporting scientific-based advice and national nutritional policies.
Ter Borg S et al. · Nutrients (2023)
For folate and vitamin D, supplements were needed to reach the recommended intake.
The reasons for concern are the low intakes of fruits, vegetables, and (fatty) fish, and the intakes of alcohol, sugary drinks, and salt.
For several foods and nutrients, no or limited intake data were found.
8Global impression of deteriorationMeta-AnalysisCited 79×n=217 · medium study2020
There are a variety of controlled trials addressing the effects of dietary interventions for MS with substantial variation in active treatment, comparator, and outcomes of interest.
Parks NE et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2020)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Among four trials comparing PUFAs with MUFAs, there may be little to no difference in global impression of deterioration (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.03; 4 studies, 542 participants; 40% in the PUFA group versus 47% in the MUFA group; low-certainty evidence).
In two trials comparing different PUFAs (omega-3 versus omega-6), there may be little to no difference in relapses (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.66; 2 studies, 129 participants; 30% in the omega-3 versus 29% in the omega-6 group; low-certainty evidence).
Among three trials comparing omega-3 with omega-6, there may be little to no difference in change in disability progression, measured as mean change in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (mean difference (MD) 0.00, 95% CI -0.30 to 0.30; 3 studies, 166 participants; low-certainty evidence).
Therefore, the general recommendation for nutritional counseling to manage diabetes may be beneficial to prevent DR risk, but prospective studies in diverse diabetic populations are needed to confirm our findings and expand clinical guidelines for DR management.
Shah J et al. · Nutrients (2022)
Conversely, high intakes of diet soda, caloric intake, rice, and choline were associated with a higher risk of DR.
No association was seen between vitamin C, riboflavin, vitamin D, and milk and DR.
Only one study in our review assessed dietary intake and DME and found a risk of high sodium intake for DME progression.
Irritable bowel syndrome patients are at risk of developing multiple micronutrient deficiencies that may have both localized gastrointestinal as well as systemic effects.
Bek S et al. · Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology (2022)
Irritable bowel syndrome patients are at risk of developing multiple micronutrient deficiencies that may have both localized gastrointestinal as well as systemic effects.
Dietary management of IBS patients should include a proper dietitian review to ensure nutritional adequacy where possible.
12Micronutrient status after bariatric surgerySystematic ReviewCited 107×2020
In this review, we discuss the latest evidence concerning the relationship between obesity, GM and micronutrients, the impact of bariatric surgery on GM in relation with micronutrients equilibrium, and the importance of the probiotics' supplementation in obese patients submitted to surgical treatment.
Ciobârcă D et al. · Nutrients (2020)
Bariatric surgery, the therapy of choice for severe obesity, produces sustained weight loss and improvements in obesity-related comorbidities.
Also, it significantly alters the gut microbiota (GM) composition and function, which might have an important impact on the micronutrient status as GM is able to synthesize certain vitamins, such as riboflavin, folate, B12, or vitamin K2.
However, recent data have reported that GM is not fully restored after bariatric surgery; therefore, manipulation of GM through probiotics represents a promising therapeutic approach in bariatric patients.
13Depression riskMeta-AnalysisCited 55×n=12 · very small study2022
This study suggested that the intake of dietary vitamin B1, B2, B6, and B12 may be inversely associated with the risk of depression; the inverse associations observed between depression and intake of dietary vitamin B2, B6, and B12 were significant in females, but not in males.
Wu Y et al. · Nutrition reviews (2022)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The pooled RR (95% CI) of depression for the highest vs the lowest category of dietary vitamin B1, B2, B6, and B12 was 0.69 (0.55-0.87), 0.77 (0.67-0.89), 0.81 (0.71-0.93), and 0.86 (0.75-0.99), respectively.
This study suggested that the intake of dietary vitamin B1, B2, B6, and B12 may be inversely associated with the risk of depression; the inverse associations observed between depression and intake of dietary vitamin B2, B6, and B12 were significant in females, but not in males.
Further studies are needed to confirm these results.
14Breast cancer riskMeta-AnalysisCited 38×n=27 · very small study2020
The corresponding pooled relative risks (RRs) for the highest intake compared with the lowest were 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-0.99; P = .018), 0.94 (95% CI, 0.89-1.00; P = .037) and 0...
Zeng J et al. · Clinical breast cancer (2020)
Barely noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The corresponding pooled relative risks (RRs) for the highest intake compared with the lowest were 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-0.99; P = .018), 0.94 (95% CI, 0.89-1.00; P = .037) and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.82-0.99; P = .026).
No significant association between vitamin B12 and breast cancer risk was found (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.94-1.04; P = .604).
An increment of folate intake (100 μg/d) corresponded to a 7% deceased risk of ER-/PR- breast cancer (RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89-0.98; P = .007).
There was a lack of precision due largely to the low number of studies.
Clasen JL et al. · European journal of nutrition (2020)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
However, vitamin B6 biomarker status did have a protective (RR = 0.62) but imprecise (95% CrI 0.39-1.14) effect estimate and folate intake had a notable association as well (RR = 0.85, 95% CrI 0.71-1.01).
There was a lack of precision due largely to the low number of studies.
Further investigation is warranted, especially for folate and vitamin B6, which had consistent suggestive evidence of a protective effect for both dietary intake and biomarker status.
Results from our meta-analysis indicated that dietary vitamin B2 intake is weakly related to the reduced risk of breast cancer.
Yu L et al. · Archives of gynecology and obstetrics (2017)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Pooled relative risk (RR) comparing the highest to the lowest vitamin B2 intake and breast cancer incidence was 0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.76-0.95].
No significant heterogeneity existed across the studies (P = 0.086, I 2 = 40.7%).
The results of dose-response analysis also showed that an increment of 1 mg/day was inversely related to the risk of breast cancer (RR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.90-0.99).
18Colorectal cancer incidenceMeta-AnalysisCited 50×2015
Our study featured unacceptable heterogeneity for studies of multiple-vitamin supplements, so findings were inconclusive.
Liu Y et al. · Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) (2015)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The multivariable-adjusted RR for pooled studies for the association between the highest versus lowest vitamin B9 (folate) intake and colorectal cancer was 0.88 [95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) 0.81-0.95].
Vitamin B9 (folate), D, B6, and B2 intake was inversely associated with risk of colorectal cancer, but further study is needed.
Our study featured unacceptable heterogeneity for studies of multiple-vitamin supplements, so findings were inconclusive.
19Effects of pasteurization on milk vitamins and health outcomesMeta-AnalysisCited 61×2011
Overall, these findings should be interpreted with caution given the poor quality of reported methodology in many of the included studies.
Macdonald LE et al. · Journal of food protection (2011)
However, milk is an important dietary source of vitamin B2, and the impact of heat treatment should be further considered.
Raw milk consumption may have a protective association with allergy development (six studies), although this relationship may be potentially confounded by other farming-related factors.
Raw milk consumption was not associated with cancer (two studies) or lactose intolerance (one study).
20Colorectal cancer riskMeta-AnalysisCited 21×n=14 · very small study2019
This dose-response analysis indicates that vitamin B2 intake is inversely associated with CRC risk.
Ben S et al. · European journal of nutrition (2019)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Vitamin B2 intake was inversely associated with CRC risk (RR = 0.87; 95% CI 0.81-0.93).
Similar results were found for total vitamin B2 intake from diet and supplements (RR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.78-0.94) and dietary vitamin B2 intake (RR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.82-0.98) in subgroup analyses.
The dose-response model indicated a non-linear trend, and CRC risk was reduced by 10% when vitamin B2 intake increased to 5 mg/day.