The Healthspan Map · Nutrient

Riboflavin (B2)

Compiled by Aamir Malik, PhD, Professor of Neuroengineering at Brno University of Technology, from published studies. He is a researcher, not a physician. Last updated 21 August 2026.

Linked to getting too little

Where a shortfall of Riboflavin (B2) is linked: 6 sources.In the order the Map holds them: strongest evidence first. That is a statement about the evidence, not about what matters most.
Condition or system	Direction	Strength	Evidence type	What was found	Source
Anemia	Eat enough of	Emerging	Review / narrative	Riboflavin deficiency can contribute to anemia via impaired iron handling.	Riboflavin & anemia (opens in a new tab)
Chronic fatigue / low energy	Eat enough of	Emerging	Review / narrative	Riboflavin is a cofactor in mitochondrial energy production; low status contributes to fatigue.	Micronutrients for energy/fatigue review (Tardy 2020) (opens in a new tab)
Headache & migraine	Eat enough of	Moderate	Established clinical	Low riboflavin status is linked to migraine; high-dose riboflavin (400 mg) is an evidence-based migraine prophylaxis.	NIH ODS / Harvard – Riboflavin (opens in a new tab)
Headache & migraine	Eat enough of	Moderate	Established clinical	Low riboflavin status is linked to migraine; high-dose riboflavin (400 mg) is an evidence-based migraine prophylaxis.	NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Riboflavin (opens in a new tab)
Skin, hair, nails & wound healing	Eat enough of	Emerging	Review / narrative	Riboflavin deficiency causes angular cheilitis, seborrheic dermatitis and glossitis.	Riboflavin & skin (opens in a new tab)
Vision problems	Eat enough of	Emerging	Review / narrative	Riboflavin status is linked to cataract risk and overall ocular-surface/retinal health.	Retinal/ocular supplements review (PMC9710404) (opens in a new tab)

The Healthspan Map is part of Fix the Floor, a book by Aamir Malik. About the book