Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), The Engine of Cellular Energy
Every movement, every thought, every heartbeat relies on energy your body creates in real time. And at the centre of that process sits one understated nutrient: Riboflavin, also known as Vitamin B2.
We include Riboflavin because it’s one of the body’s most essential coenzymes, the spark plug that keeps energy production running smoothly. It supports metabolism, protects cells from oxidative stress and underpins the health of your skin, eyes and nervous system.
What Is Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)?
Riboflavin is a water-soluble B vitamin found naturally in foods like eggs, almonds, mushrooms and green vegetables. But because it isn’t stored in the body, it must be replenished daily.
This vitamin’s claim to fame is its role in forming two key molecules: FMN (flavin mononucleotide) and FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide) - cofactors your body uses in countless cellular reactions. In plain terms: these molecules allow your cells to convert nutrients into usable energy.
Without Riboflavin, your cells struggle to produce ATP, the energy currency that fuels everything from brain activity to muscle repair.
01. The Foundation of Energy Metabolism
Riboflavin doesn’t just support energy, it creates the conditions for it. It helps enzymes break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into ATP, your body’s energy molecule. (NIH)
This is why Vitamin B2 is often called a catalyst of vitality. It ensures that what you eat doesn’t just nourish you on paper, it becomes real, usable energy.
02. Cellular Protection and Antioxidant Support
Riboflavin is also a key player in your body’s antioxidant defence system. It contributes to the regeneration of glutathione, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants, which helps neutralise free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.
This protective role is crucial for long-term wellbeing, safeguarding skin cells, eye tissues and neural structures from everyday wear and tear.
When paired with Acerola Cherry Extract (Vitamin C) in NÆRE, Riboflavin helps form a robust antioxidant network that supports clarity, resilience and glow from within.
03. Skin, Eyes, and Nerve Health
Deficiency in Riboflavin can manifest quickly in the places where cell turnover is fastest, your skin, lips and eyes. Cracked lips, dry skin or eye fatigue are subtle reminders that your cells are asking for more of this essential nutrient.
Riboflavin supports the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes, contributes to vision health and promotes the normal functioning of the nervous system. (EFSA Journal)
For NÆRE, it’s a cornerstone nutrient that helps ensure the energy we unlock isn’t just fleeting, it’s consistent, clean and supports the systems that keep you feeling balanced and alive.
04. Neurological Support and MS Research
Riboflavin’s role in the nervous system goes beyond basic maintenance. It assists in producing myelin, the protective coating around nerves that enables clear, fast communication between the brain and body.
Because of this connection, researchers have explored B vitamins (including Riboflavin and Biotin) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for their potential to support nerve metabolism and repair. While findings are still developing, the relationship between Riboflavin and neurological health is one to watch.
To learn more or to support MS research, visit the MS Society Fundraising page.
05. Why Riboflavin Belongs in NÆRE
We designed NÆRE to deliver nourishment that your body recognises, absorbs and uses nothing redundant, nothing wasted.
We include it because it supports:
+ The conversion of nutrients into energy
+ Protection from oxidative stress
+ Healthy skin, eyes, and hair
+ Nervous-system and cognitive function
+ Balanced energy metabolism for long-term wellness
Riboflavin is the quiet engineer of energy, the nutrient that keeps the lights on inside your cells. It supports how you think, how you move and how you look, ensuring your body performs with precision and ease.
At NÆRE, we celebrate ingredients like this, those that prove real wellness isn’t about chasing trends but understanding how the body truly works and nourishing it intelligently.
