Vitamin B12: What is it for?

A vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin that has 3 main functions:

Activates folate which acts on cell division.

Helps synthesize DNA for the growth of new cells.

Protects nerve cells.

A absorption of vitamin B12 occurs in the small intestine, more specifically in the ileum e requires the presence of intrinsic factor, asubstance secreted by the stomach which binds to vitamin B12 to aid its absorption.

What foods can we find it in?

A unique feature of vitamin B12 is that it is found almost exclusively in animal-derived foods such as meat, fish, poultry, shellfish, milk and eggs.. However, it is also present in foods fortified with this vitamin, such as breakfast cereals breakfast cereals, soy drinks and bread.

What are the symptoms of deficiency?

The main symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are megaloblastic anemia e nerve cell damage leading to manifestations such as irritability, dementia, depression, visual disturbances, numbness in the extremities, paranoia and psychosis.

What is the recommended daily amount of vitamin B12?

The daily requirement for vitamin B12 varies depending on the stage of life we are in. But, from 14 years old to over 70 years old, the requirement is 2.4 µg/day.

The majority of healthy people are able to achieve these values through regular consumption of a mixed diet, including foods naturally rich in vitamin B12. However, vegetarians, vegans, the elderly, pregnant women and breastfeeding women are at greater risk of developing vitamin B12.

However most cases of severe vitamin B12 deficiency are caused by intestinal malabsorption. The classic cause of vitamin B12 malabsorption is the pernicious anemiain which the autoimmune destruction of gastric parietal cells leads to the loss of the intrinsic factor necessary for the binding of vitamin B12 in the small intestine and subsequent absorption in the ileum.

Other causes of vitamin B12 malabsorption that lead to deficiency deficiency include atrophic gastritis, pancreatic insufficiency, bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, gastrectomy, ileal resection, etc. resectioninflammatory bowel disease and pharmacological treatment treatment of gastric refluxastroesophageal reflux.

What is the difference between B12 and B12 methylcobalamin?

For supplementation, four forms of vitamin B12 are authorizedfour forms of vitamin B12 are permitted:

1. Cyanocobalamin (CNCbl),
2. Hidroxocobalamin (OHCbl),
3. 5′- Desoxyadenosyl cobalamin (AdoCbl)
4. Methylcobalamin (MeCbl)

A Cyanocobalamin (CNCbl) é a synthetic form ofe vitamin B12 that has traditionally been used for the manufacture of vitamin B12 supplements and medicines, mainly due to its better stability compared to other forms of vitamin B12. However, it is not a naturally occurring form of vitamin B12 .

More recently natural forms of vitamin B12namely hydroxocobalamin, (OHCbl), Methylcobalamin (MeCbl) e 5′- Deoxyadenosyl cobalamin (AdoCbl) – have also become available for supplementation and therapy.

The use of these natural forms of vitamin B12 is preferable in long-term supplementation as it prevents the accumulation of cyanide in human tissuesThis is especially important for smokers, as tobacco smoke is one of the main sources of cyanide.

Consequently, there is a clear trend towards the replacement of CNCblsupplements, which used to be found almost exclusively on the market, by their natural forms, especially MeCblin view of their cost-effectiveness..