Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)

Also known as: Cyanocobamin, Cobalamin.

Vitamin B12 is water soluble so it must be supplied or supplemented daily.

Vitamin B12 also plays a big role in maintaining muscle tone along the digestive tract, maintains health of the nervous system, skin, eyes, mouth as well as the liver as do all the B Vitamins.

Vitamin B12 is water soluble and must be supplied every day as it can not be stored in the body for long periods of time for it is excreted with-in one to four days of consumption. Vitamin B12 is bound to proteins in food.

Hydrochloric acid in the stomach releases B12 from the proteins in food during digestion. Then Vitamin B12 combines with a substance called “intrinsic factor”. This complex of intrinsic factor and Vitamin B12 can then be absorbed by the intestinal tract.

Home Remedies using Vitamin B12:

Benefits and Uses of Vitamin B12:

Vitamin B12’s health benefits include:

  • Prevention of nerve damage
  • Important for brain and nervous system functioning
  • Promotes normal growth and development
  • Aids in fertility
  • Prevents anemia

Vitamin B12 maintains healthy nerve cells and red blood cells. It is also needed to help make DNA, the genetic material in all cells. It helps form cells and increases cell longevity.

Vitamin B12 is also required for adequate digestion of foods, protein synthesis, and metabolism of carbohydrates as well as fats.

Vitamin B12 comes in the following over the counter forms:

  • Tablet
  • Capsule
  • Powder
  • Sublingual
  • Lozenge
  • Liquid

Vitamin B12 can also be injected into the veins by the medical profession when necessary.

The largest amounts of Vitamin B12 can be found in:

  • Blue cheese and other aged cheeses
  • Clams
  • Eggs
  • Herring
  • Liver
  • Mackerel
  • Milk
  • Seafood
  • Tofu

(Note: Vitamin B12 can not be found in vegetables or fruits; it is only available from animal sources. Thus, vegetarians need this supplement because it is found only in animal sources. Breakfast cereals fortified with Vitamin B12 are valuable a source of B12 for vegetarians.)

Side Effects of Vitamin B12:

Vitamin B12 has a very low potential for toxicity. It has been reported by the Institute of Medicine that “no adverse effects have been associated with excess Vitamin B12 intake from supplements or diet in healthy individuals”.

(Note: Taking any one of the B vitamins alone for long periods of time can result in an imbalance of other B vitamins, for this reason it is best to take a B vitamin complex formula rather than a single B vitamin supplement alone.)