Vitamin B12, MP Biomedicals™

The physiologically active forms of vitamin B12 include methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin, whereas hydroxocobalamin (vitamin B12a, OHCbl) and cyanocobalamin (CNCbl) are storage and delivery forms.

Biosynthesis of the basic structure of the vitamin is accomplished only by bacteria (which usually produce hydroxocobalamin). Bacteria-derived hydroxocobalamin (OHCbl) and CNCbl are converted in humans to useful coenzyme forms to support metabolic processes, such as mitochondrial methylmalonylcoenzyme A mutase conversion of methylmalonic acid (MMA) to succinate to link lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and activation of methionine synthase, the rate limiting step in the synthesis of methionine.

• Vitamin B12 plays a role in the synthesis of myelin
• It is a cofactor for two enzymes, methionine synthase and L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase
• The compound is also used as an antipernicious anemia factor