Last updated on 7-7-2025 by Thérésa Lebacq
Why do we study vitamin B2 intake?
- Vitamin B2 is a water-soluble vitamin, also known as riboflavin, essential for energy metabolism. It plays a key role in the proper function of the nervous system, digestion, eye sight, respiration, immunity, integrity of skin and mucous membranes, and reproduction. Fat is found in both plant- and animal-based products, including oils, butter, dairy products, nuts, seeds, meat and fish.
- Important sources of vitamin B2 are dairy, meat, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Additionally, there is some production by the human intestinal microbiome. An insufficient intake of vitamin B2 or intestinal malabsorption, can lead to the vitamin B2 deficiency. This is rare and if it occurs, it is usually accompanied by other deficiencies or chronic alcohol abuse.
- The Belgian Superior Health Council states that a healthy and varied diet provides more than enough vitamin B2. Considering this, supplements are not recommended for the general population, but only in individuals diagnosed with a deficiency. It is advised that the intake of vitamin B2 from supplements remain below 5 mg/day.
- Vitamin B2 is considered non-toxic, as high doses do not get effectively absorbed and are excreted via the urine.
How do we study it?
- Inadequate vitamin B2 intake from food and supplements was assessed by comparing the habitual vitamin B2 intake of the population with the reference values set by the European Food Safety Authority which range between 0.5 and 0.8 mg/day for children aged 3-9 years and between 1.1 and 1.4 mg/day for adolescents, depending on age. For adults, this is 1.3 mg/day, irrespective of sex.
- The prevalence of excessive vitamin B2 intake from food and supplements was not estimated in absence of a safety reference value.
- Habitual intake of vitamin B2 was analysed using the SPADE® program. A detailed description on the methodology for deriving the habitual vitamin B2 intake, the type of the reference values used and the age-specific values of these references can be found here.
- Due to statistical limitations, the results of vitamin B2 cannot be presented by educational level.
KEY RESULTS
The mean vitamin B2 intake from food only is 1.2 mg/day, while the mean intake from food and supplements is 1.5 mg/day
The mean vitamin B2 intake from food was 1.1 mg/day in 2014-2015 and 1.2 mg/day in 2022-2023
Milk, milk-based products and substitutes (27%), and meat, meat products and substitutes (19%) are the main contributors to vitamin B2 intake
Vitamin B2-containing supplements contribute 4% to the total vitamin B2 intake
Proportion of the population consuming a vitamin B2-containing supplement
16% of the population in Belgium aged 3 years and older uses a vitamin B2-containing supplement.
By sex
Mean vitamin B2 intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The mean vitamin B2 intake from food only is 1.2 mg/day in the population aged 3 years and older. The mean vitamin B2 intake from food and supplements is 1.5 mg/day.
- The mean vitamin B2 intake from food is higher in men (1.3 mg/day) than in women (1.0 mg/day). When including supplements, the difference is no longer significant, with women and men having a mean intake of 1.6 and 1.4 mg/day, respectively.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with inadequate vitamin B2 intake, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as average requirements (AR).
- 63% of the population have an inadequate intake of vitamin B2 from food. This proportion decreases to 58% when the intake from food and supplements is considered.
- More women (75%) than men (51%) have an inadequate vitamin B2 intake from food. The same pattern is observed when the intake from food and supplements is considered.
By age
Mean vitamin B2 intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- The mean vitamin B2 intake from food only is roughly equal for all age categories.
- When considering intake from food and supplements, children and adults have a similar intake (around 1.3 mg/day). Adolescents have a mean intake of 2.1 g/day; however, given the large uncertainty around this value, it is not possible to conclude whether or not the mean intake of adolescents is different from that of other age groups.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with inadequate vitamin B2 intake, by age, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as average requirements (AR).
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- The proportion of people with inadequate vitamin B2 intake from food is the lowest in children (14%). In all other age groups, the proportion of the population with an inadequate intake is between 64% and 70%.When supplements are also taken into account, inadequate intake of folate acid equivalents remains prevalent: the percentages drop slightly to 22%, 67%, 67%, and 64%, respectively.
- The same pattern remains when the intake food and supplements is considered.
By region
Mean vitamin B2 intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium..
- On average, people in Flanders have a higher intake of vitamin B2 (1.2 mg/day) from food only, than people in Wallonia (1.0 mg/day).This regional difference persists when supplements are included, with a total intake of 262 µg/day in Flanders compared to 216 µg/day in Wallonia.
- When intake from food and supplements is considered, there is no longer a difference between the regions.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with inadequate vitamin B2 intake, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as average requirements (AR).
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- 75% of people in Wallonia have an inadequate vitamin B2 intake from food, which is higher than the proportion observed in Flanders (55%).
- This pattern remains the same, when the intake from food and supplements is considered, with an approximate 5 percentage point decrease in both regions.
By year
Mean vitamin B2 intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 to 64 years, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The mean vitamin B2 intake from food decreased from 1.2 mg/day in 2014-2015 to 1.1 mg/day in 2022-2023.
- The mean intake of vitamin B2 from food and supplements was 1.4 mg/day in 2014-2015 and 1.5 mg/day in 2022, with no significant difference between both survey years.
Proportion of the population aged 3 to 64 years with inadequate vitamin B2 intake, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as average requirements (AR).
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The proportion of the population aged 3-64 years with an inadequate intake of vitamin B2 from food increased from 55% in 2014-2015 to 62% in 2022-2023.
- This pattern remains when the intake from food and supplements is considered, with an approximate 5 percentage point decrease in both years.
Contribution of food and supplements
Contribution of foods and supplements to vitamin B2 intake, in the population aged 3 years and older, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Milk, milk-based products and substitutes (27%), and meat, meat products and substitutes (19%) are the main contributors to vitamin B2 intake.
- Additionally, cereals and cereal products contribute 10% to the vitamin B2 intake.
- On average, 4% of vitamin B2 is provided by supplements.
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Micronutrients: Vitamin B2, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/micronutrients-vitamins/vitamin-b2