Study Suggests Vitamin B2 May Support Survival of Cancer Cells: Research

ISLAMABAD: A new scientific study has suggested that Vitamin B2 may play a role in helping cancer cells survive, raising concerns about its cellular-level effects in certain conditions.

Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is a water-soluble essential nutrient that normally helps convert carbohydrates into energy and assists in breaking down fats and proteins for the body’s energy needs.

It is vital for maintaining healthy skin, blood cells, and internal membranes, and is widely considered an important part of human nutrition.

However, according to the new research, the same biological mechanism that makes Vitamin B2 essential for health may also assist cancer cells in avoiding destruction.

Researchers say that riboflavin may contribute to forming a protective shield at the cellular level, which helps tumors evade a type of programmed cell death known as ferroptosis.

Ferroptosis is a natural process that helps prevent the spread of cancer by triggering the self-destruction of damaged or abnormal cells.

Scientists noted that Vitamin B2 could potentially interfere with this process, allowing cancer cells to survive longer than expected.

The findings highlight the need for further research into how essential vitamins may interact with cancer biology and treatment mechanisms.