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Vitamin B2

Vitamin B2, or riboflavin, is a water-soluble vitamin with authorised roles in energy metabolism, nervous-system function, skin and vision, red blood cells and protection from oxidative stress.

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In this guideIngredient basics, choosing & product comparison

What is vitamin B2?

Vitamin B2 is riboflavin, a water-soluble vitamin used in flavoprotein coenzymes involved in energy production and many oxidation-reduction reactions.

What does vitamin B2 support?

Vitamin B2 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal functioning of the nervous system and the maintenance of normal skin, vision and red blood cells. It also contributes to normal iron metabolism, the protection of cells from oxidative stress and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

What happens if you don’t get enough vitamin B2?

Riboflavin deficiency can affect the skin, mouth and eyes. Signs can include cracks at the corners of the mouth, swollen or cracked lips, sore throat, skin changes and red or itchy eyes. Severe, prolonged deficiency can contribute to anaemia.

B2 deficiency often occurs with other nutrient deficiencies

That makes individual symptoms difficult to interpret on their own. Riboflavin status is not routinely measured in healthy people, so diet and overall clinical context matter.

Vitamin B2, skin and vision

Skin and vision are especially useful consumer-facing benefit areas because riboflavin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and normal vision. These are stronger evidence-led messages than vague “beauty” or “eye health” promises.

Riboflavin or riboflavin-5-phosphate?

Standard riboflavin is common in supplements and B-complex products. Some formulations use riboflavin-5-phosphate, a phosphorylated form. Form is useful comparison information, but the label’s daily amount and overall formulation remain more important than assuming one form is automatically superior.

Standalone B2 or a B-complex?

Riboflavin is common in B-complexes and multivitamins, but dedicated B2 products are also available at much higher strengths. The EU Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) is 1.4 mg. For a standalone product, compare riboflavin per day and the form used; for a B-complex, the overall vitamin profile is usually the more meaningful comparison.

What should you compare?

Vitamin B2 / day

Compare the amount supplied by the recommended daily serving.

Form

Check whether the product uses riboflavin or riboflavin-5-phosphate.

Standalone or B-complex

B2 is often sold in a broader B-complex, so compare the full formulation if the other B vitamins matter to you.

Product comparison

Compare vitamin B2 supplements

Compare vitamin B2 per day, form, serving, other active ingredients, format and vegan suitability.

The EU Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) for vitamin B2 is 1.4 mg for adult labelling. Vitamin B2 is water-soluble, and high-strength supplements can provide many times the EU NRV. The NRV is a labelling reference, not a personal dose recommendation or a measure of product effectiveness.

How products are ordered: by labelled daily vitamin B2 amount, lower to higher; equal amounts alphabetically. This is not a ranking.

ProductVitamin B2 / dayFormRecommended servingOther active ingredientsFormatVegan
Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/DayView product ↗12 mgRiboflavin 5′-phosphate sodium2 capsules dailyMultivitamin/mineral formulaHypromellose capsulesNot confirmed
Lamberts Riboflavin 50 mgView product ↗50 mgRiboflavin1 tablet daily—TabletYes
Solgar B-Complex “50”View product ↗50 mgRiboflavin1 vegetable capsule daily, preferably with a mealOther B vitamins; choline; inositolVegetable capsuleYes
NOW Foods Vitamin B-2 100 mgView product ↗100 mgRiboflavin1 veg capsule daily with a meal—Veg capsuleYes
Solgar Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 100 mgView product ↗100 mgRiboflavin1 vegetable capsule daily, preferably with a meal—Vegetable capsuleYes
EU health claim details
✓

Authorised health claims

A quick consumer view — full regulatory list available below
●  Riboflavin contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.Tiredness & fatigue · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of riboflavin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 0.21 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.105 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.21 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  Riboflavin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin.Skin · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of riboflavin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 0.21 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.105 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.21 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  A combination of artichoke leaf dry extract standardised in caffeoylquinic ac...Cholesterol & blood lipids · General population
Claim type
Disease risk reduction (Article 14(1)(a))

Condition of use
Food supplement must provide per daily intake: 600 mg artichoke leaf dry extr...

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2013;11(7):3327

EU legal source
SRC-2023-648

Additional statement / restriction
Use of the claim is restricted to Laboratoire Lescuyer for five years from en...
●  Riboflavin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.Energy metabolism · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of riboflavin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 0.21 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.105 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.21 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  Riboflavin contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.Nervous system · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of riboflavin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 0.21 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.105 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.21 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  Riboflavin contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes.Mucous membranes · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of riboflavin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 0.21 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.105 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.21 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  Riboflavin contributes to the maintenance of normal red blood cells.Red blood cells · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of riboflavin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 0.21 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.105 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.21 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  Riboflavin contributes to the maintenance of normal vision.Vision · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of riboflavin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 0.21 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.105 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.21 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  Riboflavin contributes to the normal metabolism of iron.Iron metabolism · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of riboflavin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 0.21 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.105 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.21 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
●  Riboflavin contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.Cell protection · General population
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
Food must be at least a source of riboflavin.
What does “source of” usually mean?
General food: 0.21 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.105 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 0.21 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.


EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
×

Other assessed health claims (5)

Not authorised for use in the EU
View claims ↓
A non-authorised claim is not automatically the same as a scientifically disproven claim. Open a claim to see the recorded reason or source details where available.
●  Riboflavin is needed/important for mental function and performance.Psychological function ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
●  Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of normal bone.Bones ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
●  Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of normal hair.Hair ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
●  Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of normal nails.Nails ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
●  Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of normal teeth.Teeth ·
Claim type
Health functions (Article 13)

Condition of use
—

EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1814

EU legal source
—

Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.

Regulatory details

Check how the claims on this page are classified and where their regulatory information comes from.

View page-level details
Ingredient
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
Category
Vitamin
NRV
1.4 mg
Authorised claims
10
Other assessed claims
5
Claim framework
EU nutrition and health claims framework. Individual claim cards show the specific claim type, conditions of use, EFSA reference and legal source available in the version data.

Tip: expand any claim above for its claim-specific source details. The European Commission's EU Register is an information service; legal acts are the authoritative source for legal requirements, and some pending claims are not shown in the Register.

Claim use requirements

How much of this nutrient must a food contain for an EU health claim to be used?

For claims requiring the food to be a source of Riboflavin, the usual NRV-based significant amount is:
0.21 mg / 100 g or 100 ml for foods other than beverages
0.105 mg / 100 ml for beverages
0.21 mg per portion if the package contains only one portion
These are the general EU significant-amount reference levels. A claim-specific condition may be stricter and takes precedence.

Sources

Sources & further reading