A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Würzburg in Germany revealed that vitamin B2, known for its role in protecting healthy cells, may hide a negative side as it can help cancer cells resist death and remain in a state of continuous growth.
What are the benefits of vitamin B2 for the body?
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The body depends on vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, to obtain essential nutrients, but is unable to produce it itself, so it must be obtained from food, such as dairy products, eggs, meat, and green leafy vegetables.
Inside cells, riboflavin is transformed into co-molecules that support metabolism and protect against oxidative damage, a function that appears to be quite beneficial. But researchers have discovered that this vitamin-related system that protects healthy cells can also help cancer cells survive and grow, according to Medical Express.
Does vitamin B2 protect cancer cells from damage?
Vitamin B2 plays a crucial role in protecting cancer cells from ferroptosis, which is a special form of programmed cell death.
What is ferroptose?
Ferroptosis is a programmed cell death process that the body adopts to get rid of damaged or harmful cells in an organized manner that prevents inflammation. This type of cell death has been linked to cancer and some neurodegenerative diseases.
How does ferroptosis differ from other forms of cell death?
Unlike other forms of cell death, ferroptosis occurs when iron-induced damage to cell membranes exceeds the capacity of their antioxidant defenses. Cancer cells are able to escape this fate by strengthening their internal defense systems.
The study showed that vitamin B2 metabolism plays a key role in enhancing these defenses, suggesting that targeting riboflavin-related molecules may reduce the ability of cancer cells to resist iron death, and make tumors more treatable.
How does vitamin B2 and FSP1 help protect cells?
Vitamin B2 supports the FSP1 protein, which is responsible for protecting healthy cells from a special type of programmed death known as ferroptosis. When the level of this vitamin in the body decreases, cancer cells become more likely to die.
FSP1 protein is one of the essential components that protects healthy cells from death, and vitamin B2 supports this protein in performing its function.
Using gene editing techniques and cancer cell models, researchers found that low levels of vitamin B2 make cancer cells more susceptible to iron death.
Can riboflavin be used to treat cancer?
The researchers demonstrated that riboflavin can induce ferroptosis even at low concentrations, emphasizing that their experiments support the feasibility of this approach.
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