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Supplements/Vitamin

Riboflavin-5-Phosphate

Active form of B2 — used directly as FMN without liver conversion.

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Overview

Active form of B2 — used directly as FMN without liver conversion.

Natural sources
  • Whole-food sources (animal products for fat-soluble and B-complex vitamins; produce for water-soluble vitamins)
  • Fortified foods (cereals, dairy, plant milks, nutritional yeast)
  • Multivitamins or stand-alone supplements in synthetic or food-derived form
Common forms
  • Capsule or softgel
  • Sublingual tablet or liquid
  • Methylated active form for sensitive individuals
  • Multivitamin matrix

Forms & variants of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Different chemical forms of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) behave differently. Browse each form's mechanism, bioavailability, and best-use context.

Mechanism of action

Direct FMN precursor for flavoprotein enzymes; cofactor for MTHFR.

Pathways
  • · FMN/FAD redox
  • · MTHFR activation

Effects on the body

Supports
Migraine prophylaxis (high-dose)

Organ system effects

Skeletal Muscle

Riboflavin-5-Phosphate supports mitochondrial ATP production and fatigue resistance.

Brain & CNS

Riboflavin-5-Phosphate acts on central nervous system targets implicated in attention, memory, and neuroprotection.

Evidence-based benefits

Migraine prophylaxis (high-dose)

Moderate evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · Bright yellow urine
Rare
    Serious

      Drug interactions

      Prescription medications (general)
      Always disclose Riboflavin-5-Phosphate use to your prescriber — additive, antagonistic, or pharmacokinetic interactions are possible.
      minor

      Supplement interactions

      Pairs well with
      • Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
        Membrane fluidity and neuronal signaling support.
      • Alpha-GPC or CDP-choline
        Provides choline substrate for acetylcholine synthesis.
      Avoid combining with

      No specific avoidances listed.

      Dosing & bioavailability

      Typical dose
      10–25 mg
      Study range
      400 mg for migraine
      Best form
      Most evidence is based on the capsule or softgel form.
      Timing
      Consistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
      With food?
      Optional

      Where to buy

      Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Amazon code supplementsch-20 is auto-applied at checkout. We don't endorse specific brands; verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

      Scientific evidence8Show studies
      RCTNeurology · 1998

      Riboflavin for migraine prophylaxis

      Schoenen J, et al.

      3-month RCT of riboflavin 400 mg/d for migraine.

      Key findings

      Reduced migraine frequency by 50%.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Riboflavin-5-Phosphate — Migraine prophylaxis

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Riboflavin-5-Phosphate Migraine prophylaxis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Riboflavin-5-Phosphate and "Migraine prophylaxis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Riboflavin-5-Phosphate — randomized controlled trial

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Riboflavin-5-Phosphate randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Riboflavin-5-Phosphate and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Riboflavin-5-Phosphate — meta-analysis

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Riboflavin-5-Phosphate meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Riboflavin-5-Phosphate and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Riboflavin-5-Phosphate — pharmacokinetics

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Riboflavin-5-Phosphate pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Riboflavin-5-Phosphate and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Riboflavin-5-Phosphate — safety adverse events

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Riboflavin-5-Phosphate safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Riboflavin-5-Phosphate and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Riboflavin-5-Phosphate — dose response

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Riboflavin-5-Phosphate dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Riboflavin-5-Phosphate and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

      Google Scholar: Riboflavin-5-Phosphate — clinical evidence

      Live Scholar search

      Cross-database citation index for Riboflavin-5-Phosphate as it relates to "clinical evidence".

      Key findings

      Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

      Open study
      Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.

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