Product code: P13175

What is methyl cobalamin?

Methyl cobalamin is used as a source of cobalamin (vitamin B12). Vitamin B12 is an important water-soluble B-Vitamin containing cobalt. Methyl cobalamin differs from cyanocobalamin (another popular source of vitamin B12) because it contains a methyl-group rather than a cyano- group.

Why choose methyl cobalamin?

Methyl cobalamin is often referred to as the 'natural form' of vitamin B12 because it is the form found in the body, therefore it is naturally occurring form in animal products. This particular product is derived from a vegan source, by transforming cobalamin (derived by fermentation) into meth cobalamin by chemical reaction.

It is permitted for use in food supplements (covered by Directive (2002/46/EC) only; for all other categories (fortified foods, infant formula and follow on formulae, processed cereal-based and baby foods for infant and young children, foods for specific medicinal purposes and total diet replacements for weight control), then cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin would be suitable options.

The importance of Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is particularly important in vegan and vegetarian diets because it is found almost exclusively in animal foods, for example liver, kidney, oily fish, red meats, white fish, eggs, and dairy products. The B12 found in these animal products is not actually produced by the animals themselves but by bacteria.

Although it might often be argued that we should be getting most of our nutrients from our foods, without the need for supplementation or fortification of vitamins, there is a good argument for why supplementation of vitamin B12 might be required. We live much more sanitary lives now (thanks to food safety!), which means we are not getting vitamin B12 from bacteria as we might have done historically when water supplies were less sanitary.

People can become deficient in vitamin B12 despite having adequate intake in the diet because they might have troubles absorbing it. Vitamin B12 is absorbed in the lower part of the small intestine but can only be absorbed if a special carrier protein called intrinsic factor is present. Deficiency of vitamin B12 could develop not just from insufficient B12 in the diet, but also from insufficient amounts of intrinsic factor; this could occur as a result of several conditions relating to the digestive system.

Elderly people are commonly at risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency because of low intake, combined with malabsorption linked with a reduction in the amount of hydrochloric acid that is produced in the stomach.

Vitamin B12 plays an important role in red blood cell formation; deficiency can lead to pernicious anaemia which is associated with feelings of tiredness and fatigue.

Dosage

Only a very small amount of vitamin B12 is required and therefore you may find it useful to use one of our diluted preparations to help disperse the vitamin throughout your product, and to also work with numbers that don't require an awful lot of decimal places!

Our 0.1% Vitamin B12 preparation is our most popular because it can be difficult working in micrograms (μg) when most other vitamins/minerals are measured in milligrams (mg) and because we have blended it to 0.1% Cobalamin/Vitamin B12 (rather than methyl cobalamin), it makes calculations even easier. This particular ingredient is in its pure form and provides 96.904 - 98.882% Cobalamin (Vitamin B12); here are some examples of how to calculate popular label claims:

The reference intake for vitamin B12 is just 2.5 micrograms so you would only need 2.58 micrograms of methylcobalamin (based on the minimum assay of 96.9% cobalamin) to deliver 100% of the reference intake for this material.

If you would like to have a 'source of vitamin B12', you would be looking for 0.375 micrograms of vitamin B12 per 100g or per serving (depending on the circumstance) so you would need 0.387 micrograms of cyanocobalamin based on the minimum assay. For a 'high in vitamin B12' claim, you would need twice this amount; depending on the circumstance, you would be looking for 0.75 micrograms, which would be delivered using 0.774 micrograms of methylcobalamin.

Toxicity/Safety/Upper Limit

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin and can therefore be excreted in the urine, but unlike other water-soluble vitamins it can be stored in the liver.

Although toxicity of vitamin B12 is rare, itchy rash and diarrhoea are known toxic side effects. The UK Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals have advised an upper safe level of 2000mcg (2mg) however other member states might have significantly lower advised upper limits so it is important to check with local legislation for the market in which the product is intended to be sold in.

Health Claims

Vitamin B12 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism

Vitamin B12 contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system

Vitamin B12 contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism

Vitamin B12 contributes to normal psychological function

Vitamin B12 contributes to normal red blood cell formation

Vitamin B12 contributes to the normal function of the immune system

Vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue

Vitamin B12 has a role in the process of cell division

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