Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)

WHAT IS CYANOCOBALAMIN?

Did you know that vitamin B12 deficiency is thought to be one of the leading nutrient deficiencies in the world? It's estimated that between 25 and 40% of adults may be deficient in vitamin B12, also called cobalamin. While B12 deficiency is often assumed to be a direct consequence of vegetarianism or veganism, research shows that diet is certainly not the only driving factor. Key among these other potential factors is a loss of gastric intrinsic factor (IF) that prevents the proper absorption and transportation of B12 inside the body. Older adults are frequently deficient.

What's unique about B12 is that, unlike most other vitamins, it can be stored in fatty tissues, primarily the liver, until it is needed. B12 is stored in substantial quantities inside the body, so much so in fact that it takes on average 3 to 5 years to deplete all stores. On the flip side, many bodily processes require B12 daily, so it should also be replenished daily to maintain healthy B12 stores.

B12 is necessary for the proper formation and maturation of all of the body’s cells, including red blood cells, and the synthesis of DNA, as well to ensure optimal neurological health, including maintaining the integrity of the myelin sheath. B12 is also essential for healthy fertility, for normal growth and development in childhood and throughout life, as well as for healthy digestion and heart function.

BENEFITS of VITAMIN B12 (CYANOCOBALAMIN)

• Needed for Healthy Nervous System Function
• Regulates Red Blood Cell Formation
• Stimulates Energy production
  
  

WHO NEEDS CYANOCOBALAMIN?

The most frequent manifestations of B12 deficiency include anemia, adrenal exhaustion, chronic fatigue, depressive conditions, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, neurological conditions, brain atrophy, memory loss, and chronic stress conditions.

Practitioners may recommend a B12 supplement to correct a B12 deficiency or to help prevent and treat the conditions listed above, as well as to help prevent major birth defects such as neural tube defects (along with folic acid), premature birth, and miscarriage. B12 supplementation may also be suggested as a preventative approach to low bone mineral density and osteoporosis, as well as to maintain vision and prevent age-related macular degeneration.

CYANOCOBALAMIN POTENCY, FORMS & FORMATS

Cyanocobalamin Potency

Cyanocobalamin supplements are available in various potencies, usually in the 250 to 1,000 mcg range. The most frequently recommended dose of B-12 is 1,000 mcg daily.

Cyanocobalamin Forms

Cyanocobalamin is the principal form of vitamin B12 in supplement form. Methylcobalamin is another common form of supplemental B12. Both are nearly identical, containing a cobalt ion surrounded by a corrin ring. The difference is that cyanocobalamin contains a cyanide molecule, while the methylcobalamin form contains a methyl group. Research indicates; however, that methylcobalamin is easier for the body to absorb.

Cyanocobalamin Formats

Vitamin B12 supplements can be purchased in tablets, capsules, lozenges, sublingual drops, oral sprays, nasal gels, as well as in injection or IV form to be administered by your health care practitioner.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CYANOCOBALAMIN SUPPLEMENT

Older adults may prefer using sublingual caps/drops or spray forms of B12 because they could have more difficulty absorbing the nutrient via gastric digestion (i.e. tablets and capsules).

B 12 supplements pair especially well with folic acid for support throughout preconception and pregnancy, as well as with vitamins A, C, and E, as well as with calcium.

Vitamin B12 is also included in most multivitamin & mineral formulas as well as B complex blends, though it's unlikely to be supplied in sufficient quantities to reverse deficiency or address conditions associated with this deficiency. If you are already taking either of these, it may be warranted to top up with a standalone B12 supplement. Always check label details to find out the doses supplied.