NAME: Cobalamin

NUMBER: 8
th
B vitamin
SOLUBILITY: water
ACTIVE FORM: Hydroxycobalamin
STABLE FORM: Cyanocobalamin
COLOR: deep red
FORMULA: C63H88CoN14O14P
MOLECULAR MASS: 1355.37 g/mol
It is structurally the most
complicated vitamin
and contains the
biochemically rare
element cobalt.
The structure of b12 is
based on a corrin ring.
It consist of :
oCyano group (-CN)
oHydroxyl group (OH)
oA methyl group (CH3)

Vitamin b12 is found in
foods that come from
animals including:
oFish
oMeat
oPoultry
oEggs
oMilk and milk products
oFortified grains
It is absent in
vegetables, so vegans
may suffer from a
deficiency
FOOD CONTENT g/100g
BEAF 8.0
FISH 2.0
EGGS 1.7
CHEDDAR CHEESE 1.5
MILK 0.4
CORNFLAKES (FORTIFIED) 1.7
LAMBS LIVER 54.0
Vitamin b12 can not be synthesized by plants or
animals only bacteria have the enzymes required for
its synthesis.
Some of the species known to synthesize b12 are
from the following genera
o Aerobacter
o Agrobacterium
o Bacillus
o Rhizobium
o Streptomyces
o Streptococcus
o Salmonella
Industrial production of b12 is through fermentation of
selected microorganisms. The species commonly
used are:
o Pseudomonas denitrificans
o Propionibacterium shermanii

Vitamin b12 is provided as a
supplement in many processed
food
It is available in:
oPill form(including multivitamins)
oLiquid form
oNasal spray
oInjection
It is available singly or in
combination with other
supplements
Vitamin b12 is also added to
beverages including:
o diet coke
oEnergy drinks
Fatigue
Depression
Weakness
Memory loss
Lower back pain
Tingling in the fingers and toes
Paranoia
Apathy
AGE RNI(g)
0 to 6 months 0.3
7 to 12 months 0.4
1 to 3 yrs 0.5
4 to 6 yrs 0.8
7 to 10 yrs 1.0
11 to 14 yrs 1.2
15 + yrs 1.5
Breast feeding women 2.0
Age group RDA(mcg)
Infants 0.5
Children 7 to 10 yrs 1.4
Adult males 2.0
Adult females 2.0
Pregnant and lactating women 2.6
Vitamin B12 is non toxic to humans in
doses exceeding the RDA by 10,000
times. water-soluble vitamins in excess
tend to be excreted in the urine,
rather than stored in the tissues as are
fat-soluble vitamins.
Reduces breathing difficulty for asthma
patients
Helps production of melatonin
Reduces replication of HIV
Helps improve mental clarity
Helps work with the brain to produce
serotonin