All About Vitamins | Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Part three of our series on vitamins briefly explores the role that Vitamin B2, or Riboflavin, plays in our diet and why it is important.

Function

B2 is known to be a very important vitamin, with some organisations suggesting that you should have B2 every single day. B2 plays a vital role in how your body converts energy from your food; it is responsible for breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates so you have a ready energy supply in your muscles.

It is also crucial for keeping your liver, eyes, skin, nerves and muscles healthy, assists hormone production, helps protect against cataracts, and boost foetal development in pregnant women. 

Some studies have also recently drawn links between vitamin B2 and preventing migraines.

Sources

So where do we get vitamin B2 from? Vegan sources include bananas, asparagus, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, legumes, and almonds.

Deficiency

It is estimated that a Vitamin B2 deficiency affects around 50% of the population of Third World countries, and those living in refugee situations. A B2 deficiency can lead to a painful and swollen tongue, chapped lips, and inflammation at the corners of the mouth. Being deficient in vitamin B2 while pregnant can lead to the child being born with heart defects.

The best way to see if you are converting the vitamins out of your diet properly is with a DNA test. Explore the NGX website and pick up a DNA test to understand how your body operates at a genetic level.