Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 in the form of a tablet is a food supplement containing cyanocobalamin, which is indispensable for humans. This vitamin is obtained only from foods of animal origin, but cannot be synthesized by our body. It is vital to the human body and has many unique properties and qualities.

Product Content

Nutrition Facts

Key Ingredients: Vitamin B-12 (Cyanocobalamin)

• Single dose: 1 tablet
• Quantity: 90 tablets
• Packaging for: 90 days

In a single dose - 1 tablet:

• Vitamin B-12 (Cyanocobalamin) – 50 μg

Other ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate.

We offer pure and natural support for your health:

• 100% active ingredients
• Vegetarian
• Gluten free
• Lactose free
• No added sugar
• Without preservatives and artificial colors
• Not tested on animals.

Recommendations for admission

Recommended daily intake

• 1 (one) tablet per day
• After eating

Recommended intake period

For maximum results it is good to take up to 3 months (12 weeks). After a rest period of about 2 weeks, the cycle can be repeated.

Other recommendations for use

• Do not exceed the recommended daily dose.
• Not to be taken by pregnant and lactating women.
• The product is not a substitute for a varied diet.
• The product is not a medicine, but a food supplement.
• Consult your personal physician before admission.

Who is vitamin B12 suitable for?

The benefits of taking the product for people with established vitamin B12 deficiency, for one reason or another, are clear - prevention of more serious complications and dealing with those that have already occurred.

The earlier the deficiency is detected, the easier and faster it will be possible to recover the serum levels of cobalamin and, accordingly, help the body to regain its normal homeostasis.

Nowadays, due to poor living conditions, the need for vitamins with antioxidant function is greatly increased.

Various factors lead to the accumulation of oxidative stress:

• Poor quality foods - rich in refined fats and sugars and poor in natural antioxidants
• High stress levels
• Decreased amount and quality of sleep and others.

Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in a number of antioxidant processes. Increased oxidative stress also implies a greater intake of the vitamin, since with inadequate intake, cobalamin will not be able to perform other important processes in the body, such as DNA synthesis and myelin formation.

Taking vitamin B12 has a general strengthening, toning and energizing effect. It is suitable for people with increased physical and mental loads, where optimal strength, energy and concentration are required.

It is used as a treatment for pernicious anemia, and its addition in the form of a dietary supplement is very suitable for people who do not consume animal foods.

The trust of our customers is important to us. Therefore, each product has a registration number issued by the Agency responsible for the control of food and food additives, which verifies its authenticity and quality: T032304443

Contraindications for admission

There are no contraindications for the use of vitamin B12, as it is essential (irreplaceable) for the human body.

It is desirable not to exceed the recommended daily dose, except in cases of its application as part of the treatment of polyneuropathies, radiculitis and other chronic or acute neuritis.

An overdose of the oral form of the vitamin is possible only after taking repeatedly increased doses for a long time.

GMP certificate

The GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certificate is the gold standard in food supplement manufacturing.

VitaOn products are manufactured following strict production processes and strict control at every stage, guaranteeing high quality and safety.

GMP certificates are a kind of proof of our company's dedication to providing you with only first-class premium products.

We prioritize consistency, accuracy and cleanliness and thus offer you peace of mind and trust that we are responsible for.

What is Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble compound involved in human metabolism. It is part of the 8-member family of B vitamins. It is necessary for representatives of the animal world, including humans.

It serves as a cofactor in DNA synthesis and plays a role in the metabolism of fatty acids and amino acids. Cobalamin is important for the proper functioning of the nervous system through the role it plays in the processes of myelin synthesis, as well as for the circulatory system, where it is involved in the maturation of erythrocytes in the bone marrow.

Plant species do not need vitamin B12 to carry out their enzymatic reactions of metabolism, which is why cobalamin is almost not contained in plants.

Vitamin B12 is chemically the most complex of all. For humans, it is the only vitamin that needs to be provided entirely through the use of animal foods and supplements.

Sources of vitamin B12

In developed countries, a large part of the population obtains vitamin B12 naturally through the intake of food of animal origin.

Foods high in this vitamin are meat, offal, eggs, dairy products, fish and seafood. Many breakfast cereals are fortified with cobalamin.

The vitamin is available as a food supplement for the treatment and prevention of its deficiency, as well as in the form of capsules and tablets, and as a solution for intramuscular injections.

Forms of vitamin B12

Vitamin B12, as we have already learned, is a complex compound in its chemical structure, which is a coordination complex of cobalt, which is located in the center of the corinyl ligand, connected to the benzimidazole ligand and the adenosyl group.

It is a solid phase substance that dissolves and colors the water in a dark red color.

Vitamin B12 has several representatives that share a similar mechanism of action. All these compounds are known as "cobalamins".

The vitamins of this family act as coenzymes, which means that their participation is necessary in enzyme-dependent catalytic reactions.

The most significant representatives of this family of cobalamins are:

• Adenosylcobalamin
• Cyanocobalamin where the adenosyl group is displaced by cyanide.
• Hydroxycobalamin where the adenosyl group is mixed with a hydroxide.
• Methylcobalamin, where the adenosylate group is replaced by a methyl group.

Vitamin B12 supplement form from VitaOn

In the text, we will look in particular at the form that is most important to humans, and which we used to create our product, namely - cyanocobalamin.

It is a modified form of B12.The product of bacterial fermentation is adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin, which are transformed into cyanocobalamin by the addition of potassium cyanide in the presence of nitrous oxide and heat.

When entering the human body, cyanocobalamin is transformed into its two biologically active forms - methylcobalamin, which functions in the cytosol of cells, and adenosylcobalamin, which performs its action in cell mitochondria.

In the food industry, as well as in the field of nutritional supplements, the most commonly used form of vitamin B12 is precisely cyanocobalamin. This is because the cyanide stabilizes the molecule and protects it from degradation. Methylcobalamin is also used as a dietary supplement, but it has not been shown to have any advantages over the use of its other forms.

Hydroxocobalamin finds another application - it is suitable for administration as an intramuscular injection solution. It is used not only in the treatment of B12 deficiencies and in particular pernicious anemia, but also in the treatment of cyanide poisoning, where the cyanide group displaces the hydroxyl group, forming cyanocobalamin.

Absorption of vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is absorbed in two ways:

• Through active transport
• By passive diffusion.

When food is ingested, hydrochloric acid in the stomach separates cobalamin from the food, after which it binds to a protein secreted by the parietal cells of the gastric mucosa.

It is called gastric intrinsic factor (GIF). After binding to it, a B12-IF complex is formed, which is easily recognized by enterocytes (intestinal epithelial cells) and thus transported into the blood.

Action of B12 in the human body

Cyanocobalamin is a vitamin that is extremely important for the human body. Without its adequate content and reception, we literally could not exist.

The roles in the human body are so important and numerous that its deficiency leads to conditions that can lead to death.

It is extremely important for a number of systems and processes:

• The brain
• The nervous and circulatory system
• For the heart
• For the musculoskeletal system
• For the synthesis of proteins and fats
• Many other body processes and functions.

Benefits of Vitamin B12 for the nervous system

Vitamin B12, together with vitamins B1 and B6, are called "nootropic" vitamins. This is because these vitamins have a trophic (nourishing) and stimulating effect on the central nervous system.

Synthesis of myelin

One of the most important and unique properties of the vitamin is its special "bequeathed" role in DNA synthesis of myelin-producing nerve cells known as oligodendrocytes and myelin synthesis.

Myelin is the insulating layer that forms around nerve endings in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of lipoproteins and allows electrical impulses to be transmitted quickly and efficiently between nerve cells.

It contributes to the processes of myelination, as well as to remyelination, which is of particular importance in the regeneration of damaged neurons as a result of trauma or degenerative diseases.

Regulation of homocysteine

B12 plays an important role in the metabolism of homocysteine, which in turn is widely represented in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. High levels of homocysteine have a pronounced neurotoxic effect. Cobalamin participates as a cofactor in many biochemical reactions, and in one of them it plays the role of a regulator of homocysteine levels.

B12 vitamin deficiency and consequences for the nervous system

Its broad field of action in the central nervous system also determines its effect on mood, our emotional state and the quality of sleep.

Its deficiency can lead to psychiatric problems of varying severity and manifestation. The link between cobalamin deficiency and Alzheimer's disease, loss of cognitive functions and dementia has been proven.

Violation of the integrity or quality of myelin leads to the "bareness" of the nerve endings.

Symptoms can vary:

• Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
• Loss of sensation and motility in the fingers
• Muscle weakness or pain (myalgias)
• Visual impairment and others.

Although it is widely represented in foods of animal origin, the deficiency of this vitamin can have such serious consequences on our overall health that its intake as a supplement is recommended for every single person.

Considering its water-soluble nature and the practical impossibility of overdosing with it, supplementation with it becomes even more logical.

However, its intake should not be overdone, since there are certain amounts of it in the liver, which serve as a reserve in case of a deficiency in the food received.

Benefits of Vitamin B12 as an antioxidant

The mechanisms by which vitamin B12 exerts its antioxidant properties are several.

Most of them are well researched:

• Direct action against reactive oxygen species (ROS - reactive oxygen species) or other free radicals (especially superoxide forms)
• Glutathione recycling. Glutathione is the most powerful natural antioxidant in the human body. It participates in a number of oxidation-reduction processes. The role of cobalamin is to recycle it and return it to its active reduced form so that it can participate in the deactivation processes of free radicals again.
• Modulator of the production of cytokines and growth factors. By regulating these highly active biological substances released by certain immune cells, B12 exerts a protective effect against immune-induced oxidative stress. Every encounter of an external stressor with our immunity leads to a series of violent biochemical reactions, which in their own way are responsible for the release of numerous active and harmful toxins.
• Reduction of homocysteine-induced stress. Apart from the nervous system, where it is widely distributed, homocysteine is found and represented in many tissues and systems of the body. Products of its action increase oxidative stress in the body.
• Reduction of oxidative stress caused by further glycation of end products.

Vitamin B12 deficiency and implications for antioxidant potential

The biochemical processes in which vitamin B12 is involved are of great importance and are also very complex in nature.

The antioxidant property of the vitamin is so broad that a subclinical deficiency of cobalamin leads to a series of disorders that slowly but surely lead to the manifestation of side effects.

Each body's potential to deal with deficiencies and side effects is different, so everyone to one degree or another, and at a different time period, would experience one of the harmful effects of not having adequate levels of the vitamin.

Studies show that even in subclinical (asymptomatic) cases of cyanocobalamin deficiency, there is a direct impact on the body's antioxidant potential, through the mechanisms listed above.

There is a directly proportional relationship between the amount of waste products resulting from oxidative processes and impaired absorption of the vitamin.

This theory directly affects the glycation of lipids and proteins under the influence of increased oxidative stress. These molecules themselves induce oxidative damage to cellular structures and lead to reduced cellular absorption of cobalamin.

In practice, a vicious circle results, which leads to varying degrees of the following problems.

Increased chance of developing type 2 diabetes

Studies on the pathophysiological mechanisms for the development of type 2 diabetes indicate that oxidative stress is the leading factor.

Excessive oxidant load leads to:

• Insulin resistance
• Decreased insulin secretion
• Glucose uptake
• Impaired hepatic glucose metabolism
• Activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

High glucose levels induce oxidative stress in pancreatic beta cells, as well as hyperlipidemia and inflammatory responses. When a certain threshold of oxidative stress is reached, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) increases many times over.

High oxidative stress, high free fatty acid content, and hyperglycemic conditions are important factors in the destruction of pancreatic beta cells by a process of apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Increased lipid oxidation

The modern man's diet is extremely rich in processed fats and cholesterol.

Polyunsaturated fats have a high oxidative potential, as does the "bad" LDL cholesterol. When eating food with a high content of polyunsaturated fats, they actively replace lipids in cell membranes. Their more fragile chemical structure makes them susceptible to the action of free radicals.

At even subclinical (undetected) deficient levels of vitamin B12, the oxidation of fats involved in cell membranes triggers the induction of an inflammatory response by immune cells.

The production of pro-inflammatory factors leads to disruption of the integrity of the cell membranes of cells from the innermost layer of blood vessels - the intima. In this way, it thickens and breaks its elasticity, as well as its smooth surface.

This, in turn, leads to an increased risk of the development of hypertensive disease, as well as the formation of parietal thrombi.

High intake and correspondingly increased circulation of LDL in the blood vessels in the presence of cobalamin deficiency and increased oxidative load, stimulates the oxidative modulation of LDL-cholesterol.

This causes increased "swallowing" of cholesterol in the form of lipid droplets by cells of the immune system called macrophages. Along with disruption of intimal integrity and inflammation, increased cholesterol uptake by macrophages is considered to initiate the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

Vitamin B12, as well as other antioxidant vitamins, play a crucial role in preventing these phenomena.

Benefits of Vitamin B12 in DNA synthesis

The role of cobalamin in DNA synthesis is of utmost importance, especially when it comes to cell populations with a shorter life and a greater rate of division.

The most well-known disease as a consequence of vitamin B12 deficiency is pernicious anemia. It is an autoimmune disease in which there is impaired absorption of vitamin b12 through the intestinal mucosa due to impaired production of gastric intrinsic factor (GIF).

GIF is a protein that is synthesized by the cells of the parietal epithelium of the gastric mucosa. The body forms auto-antibodies, and thus destroys these cells. The absence of GIF deprives vitamin B12 of a ligand to attach to so that it can be absorbed across the intestinal epithelium of the distal small intestine, the ileum.

Usually, the symptoms of this disease start slowly and gradually. In the beginning, they are most often non-specific - easy fatigue, lack of energy, drowsiness. Gradually, as the disease progresses, other generalized symptoms develop - nausea, loss of appetite, diarrheal stools, muscle weakness.

Neurological symptoms occur most often in the more advanced stages and consist of confusion, anxiety, vertigo, decreased vision, smell and taste, depression, loss of coordination, and others.

Pernicious anemia is macrocytic in nature

B12 is needed as a cofactor for enzymes in two major reactions:

• The conversion of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA.
• The conversion of homocysteine to cysteine.

In the second reaction, the methyl group of L-methylfolate is transferred to homocysteine, yielding tetrahydrofolate and methionine.

This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme methionine synthase, and vitamin B12 is an indispensable cofactor in it. In the case of vitamin deficiency, the reaction cannot take place, leading to an accumulation of methylfolate.

This accumulation leads to depletion of the other forms of folate, which are needed for purine synthesis and thymidylate, which is needed for DNA synthesis. Inhibition of DNA replication in maturing red blood cells leads to the production of large, "fragile" megaloblastic erythrocytes (blood cells with excessively large cytosol volume).

Its deficiency also affects other cells that have a short life and a high rate of division, such as intestinal cells, stomach cells and others.

Symptoms can be:

• Reflux
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrheal stools
• Reduced resorption of other nutritional micro- and macroelements.

Pernicious anemia is a serious disease that is sometimes difficult to diagnose. If left untreated, it can prove fatal. Its treatment is by administering the injectable form of vitamin B12 - hydroxycobalamin.

What are the benefits of VitaOn Vitamin B12?

We offer you a quality source of cyanocobalamin to meet your body's needs.

Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin from the group of B vitamins.

It participates as a cofactor in numerous enzymatic reactions, having a relationship with both the nervous and circulatory systems, as well as with the body's oxidative potential.

It is important for the transmission of nerve impulses, regulates mood, sleep, strength and tone, participates in cognitive processes, is important for the visual apparatus.

Its multiple functions in the body justify its intake in the form of a dietary supplement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What foods contain vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is found in abundance in foods of animal origin. It is found in meat, especially kidney and liver, as well as in dairy products and eggs. For vegetarians, sources of this indispensable vitamin are: spinach, mushrooms and potatoes, but it is still important to note that they are one of the groups of people who need vitamin B12 intake in the form of a dietary supplement.

Is it full of vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 plays an important role in cellular metabolism and metabolism. In people who suffer from B12 deficiency, its intake can lead to a slight increase in weight, which is likely to be the result of increased protein synthesis and increased appetite. Under normal conditions, taking B12 will not lead to an increase in body weight.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 overdose?

The most common symptoms of overdose are: headache, nausea, diarrhea, weakness and numbness of the limbs.

Can I drink vitamin B12 during pregnancy?

Vitamin B12 intake, like other B vitamins, is an important aspect of a pregnant woman's diet. They are responsible for many processes during intrauterine development. We advise you to consult your obstetrician-gynecologist to specify the correct dosage.