Vitamin B12 is the general name for vitamin B family chemical substances with a cobaltine ring structure. It is also called cobalamin. It is the only vitamin that contains metallic elements. It comes in four forms, including cyanocobalamin, B12 methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, and hydroxylamine.
Since cyanocobalamin was first discovered, it has ranked 12th in the ranking of vitamins, so it is called vitamin B12. It is also customary to refer to cyanocobalamin as vitamin B12. As an important cofactor in the body, cobalamin plays a key role in the methionine cycle process of homocysteine metabolism and the methylmalonic acid-succinic acid isomerization process. At the same time, it also participates in oxidative stress, intracellular signal transduction, apoptosis, and other processes. Today, Nutri Avenue takes you through which of these four forms is the best form of vitamin B12.
How Important Is Vitamin B12?
As a vitamin, B12 has two main functions.
First, it is involved in breaking certain fats and amino acids.
Second, it can regenerate methionine. Methionine is an amino acid required to form s-adenosylmethionine. SAMe is a “methyl donor” that is essential for the production of many compounds, including DNA, neurotransmitters (such as serotonin), and myelin (the protective sheath around nerve cells). SAMe is also sold as a supplement ingredient. It is used to relieve pain and optimize mood.
Cyanocobalamin VS B12 Methylcobalamin VS Hydroxocobalamin VS Adenosylcobalamin
First of all, we can simply distinguish the four forms of B12 from their appearance. Cyanocobalamin and Hydroxocobalamin are dark red crystals or crystalline powders. B12 Methylcobalamin is a bright red crystal or crystalline powder. Adenosylcobalamin is a yellow-orange crystalline powder. It oxidizes to a deep red color when exposed to air.
The body can directly utilize Methylcobalamin and Adenosylcobalamin. Both have coenzyme effects. Cyanocobalamin and Hydroxocobalamin have no direct biological activity in the human body.
After entering the body, cyanocobalamin is first decyanized, and after entering the cytoplasm, it is reduced to the Co3+ and Co2+ forms of cobalamin. It then forms B12 Methylcobalamin in the cytoplasm (methylcobalamin serves as a coenzyme for methionine synthase). It enters the mitochondria to form adenosylcobalamin (adenosylcobalamin serves as a coenzyme for methylmalonyl-CoA).
Hydroxocobalamin is the natural form of cobalamin. The other three, including Cyanocobalamin, Methylcobalamin, and Adenosylcobalamin, require industrial synthesis. Hydroxocobalamin is found in food. After entering the cytoplasm, the Co3+ and Co2+ forms in cobalamin are reduced. Like cyanocobalamin, it forms methylcobalamin in the cytoplasm. Enters the mitochondria to form adenosylcobalamin. In other words, Cyanocobalamin and Hydroxocobalamin must ultimately generate methylcobalamin in the cytoplasm before it can exert biological activity.
B12 Methylcobalamin, methyl vitamin B12, is gradually degraded into monovalent cobalamin in the cell cytoplasm. It then serves as a major coenzyme, participating in homocysteine metabolism together with folic acid. It plays a role in methyl conversion and accelerates nucleic acid and protein synthesis.
Adenosylcobalamin can be converted from three other forms. As long as the body has an adequate supply of methylcobalamin, Hydroxocobalamin, and cyanocobalamin, there is no need to supplement adenosylcobalamin. Some people also believe that when liver function is damaged, supplementing adenosylcobalamin can reduce the burden on the liver and maintain B12 levels in the body.
Of the four forms of vitamin B12, the cheapest is cyanocobalamin. It is the precursor of vitamin B12, which the body can convert into the active vitamin ingredient. Hydroxocobalamin is another precursor form that is easily converted into active vitamin B12. The two active forms of B12 are adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin. Adenosylcobalamin is used in the breakdown of fats and amino acids. Methylcobalamin is used as the methyl donor. Methylcobalamin is the active form of the vitamin and is very commonly found in nutritional supplements.
All in all, the body can only directly utilize B12 Methylcobalamin and Adenosylcobalamin. Both are the two active coenzyme forms of vitamin B12 in the body. Other forms of B12 must be converted into these two forms before the body can use them. However, the functions of these four forms of vitamin B12 are similar. They can both prevent and treat megaloblastic anemia and treat peripheral nerve diseases.
Conclusion
In general, cyanocobalamin has stable chemical properties and low prices. Hydroxocobalamin has a high affinity with protein receptors in the body and remains in the body for a long time. B12 Methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin participate in metabolism as coenzymes in human physiological processes. Among nutritional supplements, the most commonly used form is B12 Methylcobalamin. Its safety and bioavailability are both high. Nutri Avenue offers four forms of Vitamin B12. Welcome to contact us for more product information and quotations.
