Vitamin B12
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| Clinical data | |
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| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
| Routes of administration |
by mouth, IV, IM, intranasal |
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| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | Readily absorbed in distal half of the ileum |
| Protein binding | Very high to specific transcobalamins plasma proteins Binding of hydroxocobalamin is slightly higher than cyanocobalamin. |
| Metabolism | liver |
| Biological half-life | Approximately 6 days (400 days in the liver) |
| Excretion | kidney |
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| Synonyms | vitamin B12, vitamin B-12 |
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| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C63H88CoN14O14P |
| Molar mass | 1355.37 g/mol |
| 3D model (Jmol) | |
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Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that has a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and the formation of red blood cells. It is one of eight B vitamins. It is involved in the metabolism of every cell of the human body, especially affecting DNA synthesis, fatty acid and amino acid metabolism. No fungi, plants, nor animals (including humans) are capable of producing vitamin B12. Only bacteria and archaea have the enzymes needed for its synthesis. Proved sources of B12 are animal products (meat, fish, dairy products) and supplements. Some research states that certain non-animal products possibly can be a natural source of B12 because of bacterial symbiosis. B12 is the largest and most structurally complicated vitamin and can be produced industrially only through a bacterial fermentation-synthesis. This synthetic B12 is used to fortify foods and sold as a dietary supplement.
Vitamin B12 consists of a class of chemically related compounds (vitamers), all of which show pharmacological activity. It contains the biochemically rare element cobalt (chemical symbol Co) positioned in the center of a planar tetra-pyrrole ring called a corrin ring. The vitamer is produced by bacteria as hydroxocobalamin, but conversion between different forms of the vitamin occurs in the body after consumption.
Vitamin B12 was discovered as a result of its relationship to the disease pernicious anemia, an autoimmune disease in which parietal cells of the stomach responsible for secreting intrinsic factor are destroyed; these cells are also responsible for secreting acid in the stomach. Because intrinsic factor is crucial for the normal absorption of B12, its lack in the presence of pernicious anemia causes a vitamin B12 deficiency. Many other subtler kinds of vitamin B12 deficiency and their biochemical effects have since been elucidated. Due to impairment of vitamin B12 absorption during aging, people over age 60 are at risk of deficiency.
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