What Is Vitamin B12? What Is Cobalamin?

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What Is Vitamin B12? What Is Cobalamin?

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Vitamin B12, also known as Cobalamin is one of the eight B vitamins. It is a

water soluble vitamin, meaning it dissolves in water and travels through the

bloodstream. The human body does not store cobalamin - any excess or unwanted

amounts are excreted through urine.

Cobalamin plays a vital role in normal brain and nervous system functioning, as

well as the formation of red blood cells.

Experts say vitamin B12 plays a role in the metabolism of every cell in our

bodies. It especially affects DNA regulation and synthesis, as well as the

synthesis of fatty acids and energy production.

Vitamin B12 is structurally the most complicated vitamin, it is also the

largest. Cobalamin can only be industrially produced through bacterial

fermentation synthesis.

Those with B12 deficiency have a serious risk of permanent nerve and brain

damage. Individuals with Crohn's disease involving the small intestine, as well

as those who have undergone small intestine resection may not be able to absorb

cobalamin properly and may experience deficiency.

Vegans, those who consume no animal sourced food products at all, have a

considerably higher risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency, especially during

pregnancy and lactation. Plant sourced foods do not have enough cobalamin to

guarantee long-term human health (See paragraph for vegans further down this

page).

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary:

Cobalamin is a " General term for compounds containing the

dimethylbenzimidazolylcobamide nucleus of vitamin B12. "

Vitamin B12 is a " generic descriptor for compounds exhibiting the biologic

activity of cyanocobalamin; the antianemia factor of liver extract that contains

cobalt, a cyano group, and corrin in a cobamide structure. Several substances

with similar formulas and with the characteristic hematinic action have been

isolated and designated: B12a, hydroxocobalamin; B12b, aquacobalamin; B12c,

nitritocobalamin; B12r, cob(II)alamin; B12s, cob(I)alamin; B12III, factors A and

V1a (cobyric acid) and pseudovitamin B12. Vitamins B12a and B12b are known to be

tautomeric compounds; B12b has been obtained from cultures of Streptomyces

aureofaciens; B12c has been obtained from cultures of Streptomyces griseus and

is distinguishable from B12 by differences in its absorption spectrum. The

physiologically active vitamin B12 coenzymes are methylcobalamin and

deoxyadenosinecobalamin. A deficiency of vitamin B12 is often associated with

certain methylmalonic acidurias. "

Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency can result in irreversible and potentially severe damage,

especially to the human nervous system and brain. Even at slightly

lower-than-normal B12 levels, a person can experience depression, memory

problems and tiredness. However, these symptoms are not specific enough to

diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency.