Vitamin B12

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Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin or extrinsic factor, is a B vitamin and essential human micronutrient. Vitamin B12 is needed in the metabolism of every cell in the body, and has many vital functions, particularly, DNA synthesis. It plays an essential role in the nervous system by supporting myelin synthesis and for the maturation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. It serves also as a vital cofactor in both fatty acid and amino acid metabolism. As humans cannot make it, it is required for life. Animals require B12 but plants do not, relying instead on alternative enzymatic pathways. Vitamin B12 is the most chemically complex of all vitamins, and is synthesized exclusively by certain archaea and bacteria. Natural food sources include meat, shellfish, liver, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. It is also added to many breakfast cereals through food fortification and is available in dietary supplement and pharmaceutical forms. Supplements are commonly taken orally but may be...

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