Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) has some scientific basis for its use in supporting or potentially preventing cataracts, although the evidence is not robust. Riboflavin is a crucial component of the antioxidant defense system in the eye, functioning as a coenzyme in redox reactions and playing a role in glutathione regeneration, which helps protect the lens from oxidative stress—a key factor in cataract formation. Observational studies have noted that riboflavin deficiency is associated with an increased risk of cataract development. For instance, several population-based studies (such as those from India and China) have reported higher cataract prevalence in individuals with low dietary intake or low blood levels of riboflavin. However, interventional studies supplementing riboflavin specifically to prevent or treat cataracts in humans are limited and have yielded inconsistent results. No large, high-quality randomized controlled trials have definitively proven that riboflavin supplementation prevents or reverses cataracts, but there is a biological rationale and some supportive epidemiological evidence. Thus, while riboflavin is sometimes recommended as part of general ocular health, its use for cataract prevention or treatment is supported by modest scientific evidence rather than strong clinical trial data.

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