MAIN Health Vitamins & Minerals Vitamin B2

Vitamin B2, also known as Riboflavin, is an important vitamin in the B family.

Like many of the other vitamin Bs, Vitamin B2 helps to maintain the proper functioning of a variety of systems in the body, and a deficiency can lead to a great deal of serious health problems. But beyond maintaining a healthy body, those looking to increase their intake of vitamin B2 will experience several notable health benefits.

Vitamin B2 has been shown to neutralize and negate the effects of carcinogens in the body, which means that Vitamin B2 can actually help prevent the development of cancer. One study with rats showed that the rats given carcinogens actually failed to develop cancer at a much higher rate when given large doses of Vitamin B2.

Like many of the other vitamins in the B family, vitamin B2 has been shown to be important for maintaining the body's immune system, which helps to protect from a variety of ailments. Because of its ability to help maintain proper immune system functioning, vitamin B2, like many other B vitamins, helps to get the body through stressful life situations without experiencing many of the negative effects that stress can have on the body. Vitamin B2 also helps to detoxify chemicals and poisons in the body.

In one study, researchers were able to show that vitamin B2 has psychological benefits in addition to the benefits it provides to the body. The researchers found that large amounts of vitamin B2 in the body were linked to better concentration, increased extroversion, and a higher level of general happiness.

If you're interested in getting larger amounts of vitamin B2 in your diet, it is found in abundance in most dairy products, as well as eggs, seafood, and most organ meats such as liver.

There are also a number of vegetables that contain high amounts of vitamin B2 such as asparagus, spinach, and most leafy vegetables.

Around the Web, check out more facts and information about riboflavin's role in maintaining natural good health...

Riboflavin, Linus Pauling Institute's Micronutrient Information Center - Comprehensive overview of its antioxidant functions, interaction with other nutrients, conditions and risk factors of defiency including preeclampsia, and its use in disease treatment, drug interactions, and recommended dietary allowances by age level.

Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin - Vitamin B Benefits - Overview of water-soluble vitamins, recommended daily requirements for B1 along with good food sources, deficiency dangers.

The Merck Manual, Vitamin B2 - A discussion on systemic functions, causes and symptoms of deficiency.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) - Overview, how it is used in treatment of cataracts, anemia, migraine headaches and various other conditions, good dietary sources and supplements, precautions and possible interactions, related research.

Food Standards Agency - Riboflavin - How it works in the body in conjunction with other B vitamins, good food sources, recommended daily requirement, with a complete scientific assessment in PDF format.

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Riboflavin - General overview of its functions, food sources, symptoms of deficiency and recommended daily allowances.

Food Data Chart - Vitamin B2 - Tables showing recommended vitamin B2 foods with amounts listed in milligrams.

also in Vitamins & Minerals --> Vitamin A | Vitamin B1

Vitamin B3 | Vitamin B6 | Vitamin B12 | B-Complex | Beta-carotene