Chemistry and Health Impact of Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is also known as cobalamin. Vit B 12 is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions. It is essential for the production of red blood cells. So, deficiency of vit b12 can lead to a type of anaemia called pernicious anaemia, in which number of red blood cells get decreased in count as compared to normal count. Vitamin B 12 is also important for maintaining the health of nerve cells, as it is involved in the synthesis of myelin. Myelin is a fatty substance that insulates and protects nerve fibres.
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| Vitamin B12 Chemistry, Health Impact, Deficiency, Food Sources |
Vitamin B12 is also necessary for the synthesis of DNA, which is crucial for cell division and overall growth and development. B12 vitamin helps your body metabolism for extracting energy from food you consume. Vit B12 also helps enzymes, those are involved in breaking down of fats and carbohydrates. Hence, vitamin B12 have big impact on health.
Chemistry of Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is unique among the B vitamins because it is generally not found in plant-based foods. It is primarily obtained from animal sources, including meat, fish, dairy products, and eggs. Generally, it is observed that vegetarians and vegans are at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency if they do not consume fortified foods or take vitamin B-12 supplements.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin B12 for adults is typically around 2.4 micrograms. However, this is not fix and can vary based on age, gender, and specific dietary needs.
VitaminB12 deficiency can lead to various health problems, including fatigue, anaemia, headache, neurological issues, and, if left untreated, more severe complications.
Supplements are often used to treat or prevent the vitamin B12 deficiency, especially in the individuals which are at high risk. If you suspect a deficiency or have dietary restrictions that may limit your vit B12 intake, it's very important to consult with a certified healthcare professional for guidance.
Vit B12 is also known as Cyanocobalamin, while Methylcobalamin is generally used to treat the deficiency of vitamin B 12 in human body through medicines or dietary supplements.
Cyanocobalamin
Cyanocobalamin Structure - Vitamin B12
- Molecular Formula C63H88CoN14O14P
- Average mass1355.365 Da
- Monoisotopic mass1354.567383 Da
Methylcobalamin
Methylcobalamin Structure - Used to treat the Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Molecular FormulaC63H91CoN13O14P
- Average mass1344.382 Da
- Monoisotopic mass1343.587769 Da
How to treat the deficiency of Vitamin B12
There are many ways by which you can treat the deficiency of vitamin B12. However, first of all you have to answer the question that you feel any symptoms of vitamin B 12 deficiency like weakness, tiredness, headache, shortness of breath, pale skin, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nerve problems, muscles pain, problem in walking, vision loss etc.
If you feel these symptoms than consult a doctor. You can also visit a certified lab to test the level of vitamin B12 in your blood. If test results show level of vitamin B12 is very low, then it is very necessary to consult a doctor but if it is in lower range then you can consume foods which contain Vitamin B12, fortified foods, Vit B12 supplements etc.
Doctor can suggest you some medicines containing vitamin B12 or its equivalent to treat deficiency like
- vitamin b12 tablets
- B12 pill
- inj methylcobalamin
- vitamin b12 capsules
- vitamin b12 supplements
Methylcobalamin Use
Methylcobalamin is used in the treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency. Methylcobalamin is also known as mecobalamin. The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of Methylcobalamin is used in pharmaceutical companies to manufacture tablets, capsules and injections for the treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Foods You Should Eat if you have Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 is very important for body vital functions, and we need about 2.4 microgram vitamin B12 every day. There are many foods which helps us to get this much amount of vitamin B12, when we eat them in combination with other foods. These foods are meat, fish, dairy (milk, cheese), eggs etc.
Vitamin B12 in Egg
Eggs contains very less amount of vitamin B12. If you consume two eggs weighing about 100gm then you will get about 1.1µg of vitamin B12. So, we can say that you cannot treat vitamin B12 deficiency by consuming eggs. Intake of eggs with other foods help to maintain vitamin B12 in your body.
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| 6 Foods for Non-Vegetarians rich in Vitamin B12 |
Vitamin B12 in Milk
Fortified Cereals B12
There are so many fortified cereals are available in market which contains good amount of vit B12. Bran and whole wheat oats are the good, fortified cereals to fulfil your needs of daily vitamin B12.
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| 6 Foods for Vegetarians rich in Vitamin B12 |
Some approximate amount of vitamin B12 you get from the below foods:
- Cooked clams provide approximately 80 microgram vit b12.
- Cooked fish provide approximately 20 microgram vit b12.
- Cooked beef liver provides approximately 70 microgram vit b12.
- 1 cup of milk provide approximately 1 microgram vit b12.
- 200gm yogurt provide approximately 1 microgram vit b12.
- 100gm cheese provide approximately 3 microgram vit b12.
- 2 Eggs provide approximately 1 microgram vit b12.
- Fortified soya milk provides approximately 1 microgram b12.
- One time eating of fortified cereals provides approximately 2 microgram vit b12.
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