B12 vitamin, or kobalamin (cyanocobalamine) is substance, very useful and irreplaceable for a human body. Kobalamin participates in processes of blood formation and the regenerating mechanisms of fabrics. Without its normal receipt in an organism of people begins to test various indispositions, especially often it is shown at vegetarians whose food is poor on B12 vitamin. In this article we will in detail understand what actually is cyanocobalamine and what advantage it bears for a human body.
Description and general characteristic
Scientists for the first time learned about the kobalamena in the middle of the 19th century when conducted a research of a deadly form of the anemia called pernitsiozny anemia. In 1934 two scientists received the Nobel Prize for studying medicinal properties of B12 vitamin. They in details described those processes which happen to a human body at a lack of a kobalamin. 12 years later cyanocobalamine appeared in hospitals and on counters of drugstores for the purpose of therapy of various diseases, in particular, of anemia.
Whether you know? In 2002 the American psychologists published article with data of researches of influence of B12 vitamin on an organism of elderly people. They proved the fact that hypovitaminosis of a kobalamin is capable to cause chronic depressions in people 55 years are more senior.
Kobalamin is included into the list of water-soluble vitamins and is not late for long time in a human body (it is removed together with urine by means of kidneys). It has characteristic red color and contains such irreplaceable minerals as cobalt and others.
B12 vitamin can exist in several chemical forms, but it comes to a human body as cyanocobalamine. This vitamin is capable to collect in kidneys, a liver, a spleen and lungs. Cyanocobalamine — dark red powder which has high-disperse parts has no characteristic smell. Differs in stability under the influence of high temperatures and light beams.
The main functions and advantage for an organism
Kobalamin, as well as the majority of other vitamin connections, has a huge range of useful properties.
Regular intake of B12 vitamin in a human body promotes:
- to strengthening of protective forces of an organism;
- normalization of the AD level at hypotonia (increases pressure);
- to increase in power stocks in cages and fabrics;
- to prevention of short-term loss of memory and weak-mindedness. It can be used as auxiliary medicine at prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease;
- to improvement of functions of thinking and concentration. It is useful to children of school age, promotes memory improvement;
- to maintenance of functions of a brain during defeat by AIDS;
- minimization of risk of manifestation of different degrees of anemia;
- to improvement of appetite (it is useful to normal development of children);
- to establishing functions of a reproductive system;
- to maintenance in the normal state of all functions which are responsible for formation of blood cells;
- to decrease in level of irritability (protects a mental system from frequent stresses and insomnia);
- to establishing normal functions of a liver (also helps with saturation of cages of all bodies oxygen, it is especially important at various stages of a hypoxia).
Read also about the vitamins necessary for immunity, improvement of memory and work of a brain, heart and vessels, nervous system, a liver, male and female health.
Only imagine how many important functions in a human body only one chemical structure is capable to perform. Undoubtedly, it works in a combination with other structures, but without its participation the person will begin to feel constant symptoms of any diseases, and the longer the organism will lack B12 vitamin, the symptoms will be shown more colourfully.
Important! Before the use of B12 vitamin in any form of release it is necessary to consult without fail with the doctor.
Besides all aforesaid, it is necessary to notice that one of the main functions of a kobalamin is participation in transmethylation processes. He also participates in processes of transfer of hydrogen and activation of synthesis of rare vitamin U. All know that each person is individual, and distinctive feature is the structure of DNA-protein. Without B12 vitamin of reaction of formation of DNA will not be able normally to proceed. Besides, without kobalamin there will be impossible processes of formation of covers of nervous cages.
We advise to read about value and products sources of vitamins of group B: B1, B2, B5, B6, B13, B15, B17.
Vitamin sources
Neither animals, nor plants are capable to synthesize kobalamin in the course of the activity. This vitamin can come to an organism of living beings only together with food. The only living beings capable to synthesize cyanocobalamine — microorganisms (actinomycetes and bacteria). It should be noted that in a large intestine of the person there is normal microflora created from a large number of bacteria. These bacteria synthesize B12 vitamin, but it is not acquired in this place. If such microflora existed in a small intestine, then the problem would be removed, and the person would receive enough a kobalamin without the use it from the outside.
But as it is impossible to reach such effect, it is necessary to look for the products rich in this vitamin. By the way, practically all plants in the world making chocolate bars and energy drinks add cyanocobalamine to the products.
Vegetable
The vegetable products practically do not contain B12 vitamin as it is not capable to synthesize it in the course of activity (we about it mentioned above). In very small quantities kobalamin it is possible to find in soy, a sea cabbage, hop, a green salad and a tops of vegetable. But to cover standard daily rate of need for this substance, it is necessary to eat not one kilogram of the listed vegetable products. For this reason experts recommend to use kobalamin in the form of medicines to those people who forever refused consumption of animal food.
Read also about advantage and harm of a sea cabbage and a soy protein.
In the people there is an opinion (especially in circles of vegetarians) that a large amount of cyanocobalamine is present at an alga of a spirulin. It is not necessary to trust these rumors. Experts note that the spirulena contains a special form of B12 vitamin which is practically not acquired by an organism and performs absolutely other functions. Besides, substance from a spirulina shows toxic properties!
Animals
The most valuable source of an animal kobalamin is beef liver. It is enough to average person to eat only 5 g of beef liver to cover standard daily rate. In general, any liver is considered a valuable source of B12 vitamin: chicken, pork, goose. Besides a liver, rich sources of a kobalamin are the following animal products:
- lungs, kidneys, brains, heart, spleen;
- sardine, mackerel, cod;
- chicken fillet, rabbit, beef, pork;
- cheese, cottage cheese, condensed milk;
- eggs, kefir, sour cream.
Learn how it is correct to cook soft-boiled eggs and hard-boiled and also how to do it in the microwave.
The smallest amount of B12 vitamin is observed in products from Paragraph 5. However, the glass of kefir, one egg and a small piece of a mackerel will help you to cover day norm of a kobalamin.
Daily requirement and norm
The standard daily rate of a kobalamin for different age groups differs a little that is connected with physiological requirements of an organism.
Whether you know? Cyanocobalamine was discovered by the American scientists absolutely accidentally. Opening happened after scientists found out that beef liver helps to cope with a severe form of anemia at dogs.
Babies
The organism of kids who were not 6 months old yet needs in 0.4 mkg of B12 vitamin a day. Often babies receive the specified dose of this useful substance together with maternal milk. Aged from 7 to 12 months the requirement grows to 0.5 mkg a day.
Children
Normal growth and development of children from 1 to 3 years requires 0.9 mkg of B12 vitamin a day. This standard is reference only for those children which have no problems with health. If the child has deficiency of a kobalamin, then the pediatrician will appoint a daily dosage of a kobalamin individually. Aged from 4 to 8 years the daily requirement will make 1.2 mkg, and aged from 9 to 13 years the requirement grows to 1.8 mkg.
Learn how to choose vitamin complexes for themselves, the husband, children.
Adults
Adults in this category it is possible to call men and women whose age exceeds 14 years. From this age if in a human body there is no deficiency a kobalamin, it is necessary to use every day such quantity of products that at them there were not less than 2.4 mkg of B12 vitamin.
Pregnant and feeding
Future mummies on any term of pregnancy and at any age need to consume every day of not less than 2.6 mkg of B12 vitamin. It is important to note that during feeding by a breast this indicator increases by 0.2 mkg as the child together with milk of mother has to receive the norm of a kobalamin. It is better for pregnant women not to neglect these standards as B12 vitamin plays very important role in formation and creation of nervous system of a fruit.
Read also about vitamins for pregnant women and the feeding mothers.
Shortcoming and surplus
If B12 vitamin comes to a human body in non-standard quantities, then hypovitaminosis or gipervitaminoz begins. In such cases the patient begins to feel a number of unpleasant symptoms which can cause complications in the form of various diseases. That the situation did not become critical, it is necessary to address to medical institution as soon as possible.
Hypovitaminosis
Hypovitaminosis of a kobalamin often arises at senile age when elderly people use few meat and dairy products. Against the background of it there is a chronic depression, fatigue and insomnia. At infantile age the deficiency of cyanocobalamine can be shown because of absence in intestines of the enzymes which are responsible for vitamin absorption or because of damage of a GIT by worms.
Learn, than hypovitaminosis and avitaminosis differ.
The lack of enzymes is a pathological state which develops because of genetic predisposition. In such cases the drug treatment is required, otherwise complications in the form of a severe form of anemia can begin.
Important! At severe forms of amnesia, chronic stresses and insomnia cyanocobalamine is entered into a spinal cord (intralyumbalno). It is independently forbidden to do such procedure if you have no corresponding education in the sphere of medicine. The wrong prick can threaten with serious consequences, up to disability!
The main symptoms of hypovitaminosis are:
- shortage of forces, slackness, weakness;
- yellowish shade of integuments;
- the increased nervousness;
- problems with appetite, diarrheas;
- back pains, muscle weakness;
- depression, high level of predisposition to stresses;
- inflammation of language;
- reddening of eyeballs, hypersensibility of organs of vision to light beams;
- physical activities always become the cause of severe short wind and tachycardia.
It is important to understand that at emergence of any of the above-stated symptoms it is necessary to see a doctor immediately. Long or chronic hypovitaminosis can provoke injury of neurons of a brain or malignant anemia.
Gipervitaminoz
If a lot of B12 vitamin disposable came to a human body excessively, then there can be following consequences: pulmonary edema, heart failure, anaphylactic shock and thrombosis of vessels.
Learn more about symptoms and prevention of a gipervitaminoz.
It is possible to distinguish the following from characteristic symptoms of a gipervitaminoz:
- allergic rashes on skin in the form of a small tortoiseshell;
- pains in a cardiac muscle;
- severe nervous breakdowns;
- tachycardia (the people having stenocardia are especially subject).
The surplus of a kobalamin is capable to result in the increased blood clotting therefore processes of digestion of cyanocobalamine in intestines are broken. At a gipervitaminoza the blood test shows the increased level of leukocytes and erythrocytes, actually, because of it blood gets denser and the risk of thromboses increases. Besides, the surplus in an organism of a kobalamin leads to assimilation violation by an organism of B1 and B2 vitamins.
It is important to understand what to earn gipervitaminoz by means of excessive consumption of meat and dairy products it is impossible for itself as B12 vitamin water-soluble and for long time is not late in an organism. Gipervitaminoz is possible only at introduction of too high dose of a kobalamin intramuscularly.
Interaction with other substances
Cyanocobalamine is not compatible to ascorbic acid. These two substances cannot be acquired at the same time therefore, they need to be entered separately with certain time intervals. In this regard there are certain difficulties on productions of mineral and vitamin complexes. Simultaneous introduction of inosine, B6 and B12 vitamin is not used in medical practice. Patients who are treated by medicines K+ have to know that B12 vitamin reduces the level of assimilation of ions of potassium.
Whether you know? One milligram of a kobalamin will last for the person for 2 years! It will surprise many, but it is possible that kobalamin it is capable to be stored long time in a liver.
Separately it would be desirable to note what kobalamin is badly acquired at certain gastrointestinal diseases. Intestinal microflora violation, diarrhea, food poisonings — all this does not allow to be acquired normally to cyanocobalamine. In such cases the consultation of the doctor is necessary.
Dosage forms of B12 vitamin
Cyanocobalamine is available in the pharmacological market in three main types:
- medicines in the form of tablets;
- liquid consistences for intravenous and intramuscular administration;
- in complex mineral and vitamin means in the form of a dragee or powders. It is also possible to get kobalamin in the form of syrup.
The most effective and safe type of cyanocobalamine — an injection. Such medicines do not contain the excipients capable to cause allergic reactions. Besides, by method of injections it is possible to enter once high doses. Intramuscular or intravenous administration of a kobalamin is used only in critical cases or when the patient cannot independently swallow a dragee with kobalaminy (the baby, the patient in a coma).
Cyanocobalamine in the form of tablets is shown to people who owing to the beliefs refused consumption of meat and dairy products. Besides, it should be accepted to professional athletes who are exposed to constant increased load on a cardiac muscle. Sometimes kobalamin people should accept as prevention during the autumn and spring period, but before it it is better to get advice of the expert.
We advise to read about vitamins and their sources, necessary for health of athletes.
Possible harm and contraindications
Cyanocobalamine should be accepted in the increased quantities only after the doctor makes the diagnosis hypovitaminosis. Otherwise to arise the mass of side effects, besides, before the use of B12 vitamin it can is necessary to be convinced of whether there are no contraindications to its application:
- true politsitemiya;
- the increased quantity of erythrocytes and hemoglobin as a part of blood;
- individual intolerance cyanocobalamine organism;
- thrombembolia;
- the period of pregnancy and feeding by a breast (in this case it is about what cannot be entered kobalamin intravenously or intramuscularly, however it is just necessary to eat meat and dairy products to future mummy);
- some types of malignant and good-quality new growths;
- megaloblastny anemia;
- stenocardia (in this case intake of B12 vitamin is admissible, but in limited quantities and only after consultation with the doctor).
Side effects after intake of cyanocobalamine arise very seldom. Often it occurs in case of overdoses. Then the patient can complain of a headache and dizziness, tachycardia, pains in heart, allergic reactions, diarrhea.
Important! Cyanocobalamine is without fail appointed sick encephalitis, poliomyelitis, radiation sickness and sciatica.
Finally it would be desirable to note that cyanocobalamine is irreplaceable substance for a human body. Without enough B12 vitamin there can be serious diseases. But you remember that before purchase and the use of any harmless vitamins on the basis of cyanocobalamine it is necessary to consult with the doctor that there were no unpleasant symptoms of a gipervitaminoz.