Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin involved in the metabolism of every cell of the human body.It is one of eight B vitamins. It is a cofactor in DNA synthesis, and in both fatty acid and amino acid metabolism. It is particularly important in the normal functioning of the nervous system via its role in the synthesis of myelin, and in the maturation of developing red blood cells in the bone marrow.

 

Vitamin B12 is the largest and most structurally complex vitamin. The vitamin exists in four near-identical chemical forms (vitamers): cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin. Cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin are used to prevent or treat vitamin deficiency; once absorbed they are converted into adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin, which are the forms that have physiological activity. All forms of vitamin B12 contain the biochemically rare element cobalt (chemical symbol Co) positioned in the center of a corrin ring.