Health and Fitness

Vitamin B12 has a complex structure and the compound is more of an organo- metallic one. The therapeutic form of the vitamin B12 is cyanocobalomine. The vitamin along with folate helps in the synthesis of DNA. As a result the deficiency of either of these vitamins causes megaloblastosis. However, vitamin B12 performs a separate function of synthesizing fatty acids in myelin, without using folate.

Dietary sources

Liver, meat, kidney, fish, eggs, cheese and milk are good sources of vitamin B12. Foods of vegetable origin do not contain vitamin B12. It is also synthesized in the colon by the bacteria present in the intestine. The liver stores sufficient amount of this vitamin. Vitamin B12 is relatively heat stable.

 Deficiency disorders

As liver is the main storage site of the vitamin B12, the body can supply sufficient amount of the vitamin for 1 to 3 years. Liver can store about 2 mg of the vitamin and another 2 mg is stored in other parts of the body. Due to this reserve the deficiency diseases are rarely seen. Megaloblastic anemia or pernicious anemia, infertility problems, and demyelinating neurological lesions in the spinal cord are disorders that occur due to the deficiency of vitamin B12. Generally the dietary deficiency of this vitamin is found among those who are strictly dependent on vegetarian diets and do not eat any animal products.

Daily recommended allowance