Vitamin B12

A red, crystal-like substance that can be dissolved in water, important as a vitamin. It is used in processing protein, fats, and carbohydrates, normal blood making, and nerve function. The first substance with cobalt found to be vital to life, cyanocobalamin cannot be made in a laboratory but can be taken from cultures of Streptomyces griseus. Rich dietary sources are liver, kidney, meats, fish, and dairy products. A lack is most often caused by the lack of a substance made in the small intestine (intrinsic factor). Intrinsic factor is needed for the taking up of cyanocobalamin from the digestive tract. A lack of cyanocobalamin results in pernicious anaemia and brain damage