Vitamin B12
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12
Office of Dietary Supplements • NIH Clinical Center • National Institutes
of Health
What is vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is also called cobalamin because it contains the metal cobalt.
This vitamin helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells [1-4].
It is also needed to help make DNA, the genetic material in all cells
[1-4].
Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein in food. Hydrochloric acid in the
stomach releases B12 from proteins in foods during digestion. Once
released, vitamin B12 combines with a substance called gastric intrinsic
factor (IF). This complex can then be absorbed by the intestinal tract.
What foods provide vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal foods including fish, meat,
poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Fortified breakfast cereals are a
particularly valuable source of vitamin B12 for vegetarians [5-7]. Table 1
lists a variety of food sources of vitamin B12.
See also:
Nutrition Fruits & Vegetables
Source and more info at
Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Fact Sheets
from the Office
of Dietary Supplements
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