Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 or Cyanocobalamin is the most complex chemically, and biologically interesting vitamin. It has a dark red crystal appearance that has earned it the label of "nature's most beautiful cofactor." Closely related to the vitamin are other pigments of life including complex organometallic substances such as chlorophyll, hemoglobin, and cytochromes as well as derivatives of uroporphyrinogen III. Vitamin B12 works with B9 (folate) to create building blocks for RNA and DNA synthesis and the synthesis of molecules that help maintain proper body functioning. This vitamin also helps your nervous system function properly and aids in molecule synthesis involved in energy production and in fatty acid biosynthesis. Your body only uses minute amounts of vitamin B12 to carry out these tasks.

Intake of vitamin B12 is critical for those who have had gastric surgery and for the elderly. These people have increased risk for vitamin B12 deficiency. Those who might also benefit from in taking vitamin B12 are those who maintain low levels of the vitamin or who have mal-absorption problems. These people might include some vegetarians and the chronically ill.

Vitamin B12 may help restrain pre-cancerous lung conditions in smokers. It also might help improve neuropsychiatric disorder symptoms in those with HIV and chronic fatigue. Early onset of some breast cancers and vascular diseases might be prevented by vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 has been suggested to help defend against hypersensitivity to sulfites too.