Monday Dec 16, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study in Cancer Causes & Control suggests that high intake of riboflavin or vitamin B2 may help prevent breast cancer while high vitamin B12 may increase the risk.

Vitamin b2 is commonly found in plant-derived foods and also in some animal foods. Vitamin B12 is only found in animal-based foods.  Vitamin B2 is found in plant-derived foods and animal derived foods.

For the study, 20,756 women in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study were followed for an average of 16 years during which 936 incident breast cancers were identified.  B vitamins were estimated using a food frequency questionnaire.

K. Julie and colleagues who conducted the study found an inverse association between dietary intake of vitamin B2 and the risk of breast cancer.  Those in the highest quartile of dietary intake of riboflavin were 16% less likely to develop breast cancer, compared with those in the lowest.

The researchers also found those in the highest quartile of dietary intake of vitamin B12 were 21% more likely to develop breast cancer, compared with those in the lowest quartile.

Vitamin B2 rich foods include yogurt, soybeans, crimini mushrooms, spinach, tempeh, almonds,  pasture-raised eggs, grass-fed cow's milk, green peas, and collard greens. (David LIu, PHD)