Only a small fraction of vitamin B12-requiring organisms are able to synthesize B12 de novo, making it a common commodity in microbial communities. Initially recognized as an enzyme cofactor of a few enzymes, recent studies have revealed additional B12-binding enzymes and regulatory roles for B12 Here we report the development and use of a B12-based chemical probe to identify B12-binding protei...

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency is a major public health problem, particularly among the elderly population. It is known that a deficiency in serum B12 levels can cause a combination of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, in these cases successful replacement of depleted B12 levels is a necessity. Identification of B12 deficiency in elderly patients can be rather difficult as ...

Studies were designed to evaluate the binding of binding of vitamin B12 to cell membrane preparations from human placenta. The transcobalamin II-vitamin B12 complex (TCII-B12), which has a much greater affinity for the membranes than vitamin B12 alone, binds to a single saturable binding site with an approximate Ka = 7.2 mM-1. The binding requires a divalent cation and is temperature-dependent....

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin, Cbl, B12) is an indispensable water-soluble micronutrient that serves as a coenzyme for cytosolic methionine synthase (MS) and mitochondrial methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MCM). Deficiency of Cbl, whether nutritional or due to inborn errors of Cbl metabolism, inactivate MS and MCM leading to the accumulation of homocysteine (Hcy) and methylmalonic acid (MMA), respectively. In...

OBJECTIVES to examine the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency in later life in representative samples of the elderly population in the United Kingdom. DESIGN a population-based cross-sectional analysis of 3,511 people aged 65 years or older from three studies was used to estimate the age-specific prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and of folate deficiency. Vitamin B12...

BACKGROUND More than 2.9 million serum vitamin B12 tests were performed in 2010 in Ontario at a cost of $40 million. Vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with a few neurocognitive disorders. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical utility of B12 testing in patients with suspected dementia or cognitive decline. METHODS Three questions were addressed: Is there an association between vitamin...

Vitamin B12 (B12) belongs to a group of water soluble B-vitamins. Methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin are two biologically active forms of B12. Hydroxocobalamin, aquacobalamin, nitrocobalamin and cyanocobalamin are metabolized to either of the two active forms once ingested. B12 is essential in synthesis of methionine (methylcobalamin) and in metabolism of lipids, protein and carbohydrates (a...

BACKGROUND Vitamin B12 deficiency is common, and the incidence increases with age. Most people with vitamin B12 deficiency are treated in primary care with intramuscular (IM) vitamin B12. Doctors may not be prescribing oral vitamin B12 formulations because they may be unaware of this option or have concerns regarding its effectiveness. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of oral vitamin B12 vers...

Introduction A wide range of psychiatric symptoms has been associated with pernicious anemia. A number of factors indicate a causal relationship between B12 deficiency and cerebral dysfunction and consequent organic mental change. Deana (1977) demonstrated that vitamin B12 deficiency in the rat has profound effects on several neurotransmitter systems and results in significantly reduced norepin...

In clinical practice, the finding of an elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV), macrocytic anaemia or specific neurological symptoms is often the reason to test for vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency. Use of the MCV as a test for the detection or exclusion of B12 deficiency is only justified if the diagnostic accuracy is sufficiently high. However, the sensitivity and specificity are not well known. ...