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Vitamin B12 Chemical Structure Food Sources Vitamin B12 in the Body Stability Synthesis Home Page Vitamin B12 Crystals Copied without permission from Roche Product Information

Vitamin B12 The term vitamin B12 refers to a group of molecules called cobalamins which all contain cobalt. These include: Hydroxocobalamin Adenosylcobalamin (active coenzyme form) Methylcobalamin (active coenzyme form) Cyanocobalamin (synthetic form of vitamin B12 that can be transformed by the body into the active coenzymes) Top Chemical Structure Fig.1 The Chemical Structure of Vitamin B12 Copied without permission from Roche product information. 3D Structure of Vitamin B12 Top Principal Sources in Food The main dietary sources of vitamin B12 are animal products for example: Organ meats Fish Eggs Dairy products Did You Know? Bacteria in the gut synthesise vitamin B12 but in different area to where absorption takes place, thus not providing a source of the vitamin. Top Vitamin B12 in the Body Like the other members of the B-complex, vitamin B12 is involved in the cellular metabolism of carbohydrate, protein and fat and in the production of: Blood cells in the bone marrow Nerve sheaths Proteins Deficiency of vitamin B12 results in: Megaloblastic anaemia Neuropathy Defective DNA synthesis in cells Damage to the nervous system Top Stability Vitamin B12 is stable to heat but is sensitive to light, oxygen, acid and alkali. Top Synthesis The industrial production of vitamin B12 involves bacterial fermentation. Top

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