Tired of feeling tired? Discover the health benefits of vitamin B2, one of the essential B vitamins we need in our daily diet.
Like all eight B vitamins, B2 is essential for helping you convert food into energy so your body works efficiently.
And vitamin B2 – also known as riboflavin – is a must for keeping your skin, eyes and nervous system healthy.1 Plus, it helps turn fellow B vitamins, folate and B6, into forms your body can use.Handpicked content: 10 amazing facts about your skin
Running on empty? Vitamin B2 helps to break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates, and keeps a steady supply of energy flowing through your body.
It can also convert carbohydrates into a substance called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which helps store energy in our muscle cells until we need it.2Handpicked content: What causes heart disease and am I at risk?
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Like all B vitamins, B2 is water-soluble so it’s not stored in your body. If you have a vitamin B2 deficiency because you’re not getting enough from your diet, you might notice some of these symptoms:
• fatigue
• sensitivity to light
• tired eyes
• digestive problems
• cracks at the side of your mouth
• a swollen tongue
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1. NHS Choices. Riboflavin (vitamin B2). Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/#riboflavin-vitamin-b2
2. Medical News Today. Vitamin B2: why do we need it and where can we get it? Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219561.php
3. Powers, H. Riboflavin (vitamin B-2) and health. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/77/6/1352/4689829
4. Ashoori M, Saedisomeolia A. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) and oxidative stress: a review. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24650639
5. As Source 3
6. As Source 3
7. University of Maryland Medical Centre. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin). Available from: https://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b2-riboflavin
8. Sheraz M, et al. Photo, thermal and chemical degradation of riboflavin. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4168737/