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Supplements/Vitamin

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

FAD/FMN precursor central to redox reactions and migraine prophylaxis.

Energy ProductionBrain & Cognitive

Overview

FAD/FMN precursor central to redox reactions and migraine prophylaxis.

Natural sources
  • Dairy
  • Eggs
  • Almonds
  • Lean meat
Common forms
  • Riboflavin
  • Riboflavin-5-phosphate

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.

R5P (active B2)
Riboflavin-5-Phosphate

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

Mechanism of action

Forms FAD/FMN, electron carriers in the ETC and many oxidoreductases.

Pathways
  • · Electron transport
  • · Folate/B6 activation

Effects on the body

Supports
Mitochondrial respiration
Decreases
Migraine frequency

Organ system effects

Brain & CNS

High-dose riboflavin reduces migraine days.

Evidence-based benefits

Reduces migraine frequency at 400 mg/d

Moderate evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · Bright yellow urine (harmless)
Rare
    Serious

      Drug interactions

      No notable interactions reported.

      Supplement interactions

      Pairs well with

      None listed.

      Avoid combining with

      No specific avoidances listed.

      Dosing & bioavailability

      Typical dose
      1.3 mg general; 400 mg/d for migraine prophylaxis

      Where to buy

      Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

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      Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

      Scientific evidence (8)

      Systematic reviewExamine.com Supplement Database · 2023

      Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): pharmacology, clinical evidence, and safety — narrative review

      Examine.com Research Team

      Curated narrative review of human and preclinical evidence for Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), including mechanism, typical dosing, and safety considerations.

      Key findings

      Best-supported outcome: Reduces migraine frequency at 400 mg/d (evidence: moderate). Additional outcomes and limitations summarized in the full profile.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) — Reduces migraine frequency at 400 mg/d

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Reduces migraine frequency at 400 mg/d" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) and "Reduces migraine frequency at 400 mg/d". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) — randomized controlled trial

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) — meta-analysis

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) — pharmacokinetics

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) — safety adverse events

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) — dose response

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

      Google Scholar: Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) — clinical evidence

      Live Scholar search

      Cross-database citation index for Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 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.