A daily vitamin is usually associated with better health, more energy and a stronger body.
That is why researchers are now attracting attention with findings suggesting that one common nutrient could also be helping cancer cells defend themselves.
Scientists from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg in Germany say vitamin B2 may play a larger role in cancer survival than previously believed, reports Science Daily.
The study, published in Nature Cell Biology, is already sparking interest among cancer researchers worldwide.
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Cancer’s defense
Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is naturally found in foods such as eggs, dairy products, meat and green vegetables. The body relies on it for energy production and for protecting cells against damage.
But according to the German research team, tumors may also be using the vitamin as part of their own defense system.
The scientists focused on ferroptosis, a natural process where damaged cells are destroyed through iron-related stress.
Their findings suggest vitamin B2 helps cancer cells avoid this type of cell death, allowing tumors to survive under conditions that would normally weaken them.
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A new direction
To test the theory further, researchers used roseoflavin, a naturally occurring compound produced by bacteria that closely resembles vitamin B2.
In laboratory experiments, the substance successfully triggered ferroptosis in cancer cells, even at very low doses.
Researchers believe the discovery could open a new path in future cancer treatment research by targeting the protective systems tumors depend on.
The team stresses that the findings are still in the early stages and far from becoming a treatment for patients.
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However, scientists say the study provides an important new clue in understanding how cancer cells survive.
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