Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) supplements with the fewest additives
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) may help reduce the frequency of migraines, prevent cataracts, and more. However, many B2 supplements contain more than just the riboflavin. For example, silica or silicon dioxide are often added to prevent caking, magnesium stearate or stearic acid for easier manufacturing, hypromellose (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) as an emulsifier or thickener, and gums to bind ingredients together.
I try to avoid these additives because they may have questionable health effects. If you want to do the same, my recommendations are:
Suggestions for no-additive B2 capsules
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), gelatin (bovine) capsules.
Suggestions for pure B2 powders
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
Vitamin B2 (as riboflavin).
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
Vitamin B2 (as riboflavin 5 phosphate).
In the UK?
BulkSupplements and PureBulk will ship the recommended powders internationally, or you can try Metabolics brand which is UK-based:
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- free of gums
Riboflavin 5 phosphate, purified water
Outside the US/UK?
BulkSupplements and PureBulk will ship the recommended powders internationally.
If you frequently need US-based products, Reship.com and MyUS.com can forward packages to you from the US.
If you find a better option in your country, please let me know in the comments.
Other vitamin B2 supplements
The following are other vitamin B2 supplements I'm aware of, sorted alphabetically.
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Best Naturals Vitamin B-2 (Tablets) | Riboflavin (vitamin B-2), dicalcium phosphate, vegetable cellulose. Contains less than 2% of silica, vegetable magnesium stearate. |
| BioTech Pharmacal B2-400 Riboflavin (Capsules, 400mg) | Riboflavin USP (vitamin B-2), gelatin (Kosher and Halal certified), silica. |
| BlueBonnet Nutrition Vitamin B2 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), 100% kosher vegetable capsules, vegetable cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate. |
| Carlson Labs B-2 (Tablets) | Riboflavin (as vitamin B-2), dicalcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, stearic acid (vegetable), magnesium stearate (vegetable). may contain silicon dioxide. |
| Enzymatic Therapy Riboflavin (Tablets) | Riboflavin (vitamin B2), cellulose, modified cellulose gum, magnesium stearate, modified cellulose, stearic acid, silicon dioxide, fractionated coconut oil, and carnauba wax. |
| Epigenetics Vitamin B2 Riboflavin 5 Phosphate (Liquid) | Riboflavin, purified water, citric acid. |
| HoneyCombs Vitamin B2 Extract (Alcohol-free Liquid) | Riboflavin, alfalfa, parsley, kelp, rosehips, catalyst altered water, natural vegetable glycerin. |
| Natural Factors B2 Riboflavin (Tablets) | Riboflavin (vitamin B2), Cellulose, stearic acid, silica, coating. Contains soy. |
| Nature's Bounty Vitamin B-2 (Tablets) | Riboflavin (vitamin B-2), dicalcium phosphate, vegetable cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate, silica. |
| Nature's Life B-2 Riboflavin (Tablets) | Riboflavin (vitamin B-2), calcium (as calcium carbonate), cellulose, stearic acid, acacia and silica. |
| Nature's Plus Vitamin B-2 (Tablets) | Riboflavin (vitamin B-2), microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, di-calcium phosphate, stearic acid, rice bran, magnesium stearate, pharmaceutical glaze and silica. |
| Nature's Way Vitamin B2 (Capsules) | Riboflavin (vitamin B2), cellulose, gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate. |
| NOW Foods B-2 (Capsules) | Riboflavin (vitamin B2), rice flour, gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate (vegetable source) and silica. |
| Rexall Sundown Naturals High Potency B2 (Tablets) | Riboflavin (vitamin B-2), dicalcium phosphate, vegetable cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate, silica. |
| Seeking Health Riboflavin (Capsules) | Riboflavin (as riboflavin 5'-phosphate sodium, riboflavin), HPMC (vegetable capsule), ascorbyl palmitate, and silica. GMO-free. |
| Solaray Vitamin B-2 (Capsules) | Riboflavin (vitamin B2), whole food base (whole rice concentrate including the kernel, polishings, hull, pure aloe vera gel [aloe officinalis]), gelatin (capsule), and magnesium stearate. |
| Solgar Vitamin B2 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin B2 (as riboflavin), vegetable cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate, silica, microcrystalline cellulose. |
| Source Naturals, Coenzymated B-2 (Sublingual Tablets) | Riboflavin (from 25mg flavin mononucleotide, coenzymated), sorbitol, mannitol, natural peppermint flavor, and magnesium stearate. |
| Swanson Premium Vitamin B-2 (Capsules, 100mg) | Riboflavin USP (vitamin B-2), gelatin, microcrystalline cellulose (plant fiber), may contain one or both of the following: silica, rice concentrate. |
| Thorne Research Riboflavin 5' Phosphate (Veggie Capsules) | Riboflavin (as riboflavin 5' - phosphate sodium), aspartic acid, hypromellose (derived from cellulose) capsule, silicon dioxide. |
| Twinlab B-2 (Capsules) | Riboflavin (as riboflavin 5'-phosphate sodium, riboflavin), gelatin, potato starch, magnesium stearate, medium chain triglycerides. |