Crystal Tran
Dr. Eichhorn
Chemistry 514
21 November 2017
Vitamin B12 in Inorganic Chemistry
Vitamin B12, also known as cyanocobalamin or cobalamin is an important water-soluble organic compound that aids in many biological functions that are essential for life (Jamil 2015). Vitamin B12 is one out of eight vitamins, that was discovered by Georg Richard Minot, William Parry Murphy, and George Whipple in the nineteenth century due to their investigation of the disease pernicious anemia (Vitamin B12 www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/vitb12/b12.htm). Although they weren't the first to discover Vitamin B12, Baron Todd and Karl Folkers isolated the compound in 1948 (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica 2014). Vitamin B12 mainly supports in the development of red blood cell formation in humans and mammals which can later develop a deficiency in older adults due to poor diet ("Vitamin B-12" 2017). There are many solutions to Vitamin B12 deficiency since it has become a common illness in the United States.
Vitamin B12 structurally contains a metallic ion Cobalt, with a chemical structure shown in Figure 1.1 with the empirical formula of C61-64H84-90N14O13-14PCo (C63H88CoN14O14P) (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica 2014). Cobalt plays a special role in Vitamin B12 since it aids in the metabolism in our bodies. Vitamin B12 has two active coenzyme forms which are methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin that aids with folic acid (folate) in making DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in the
Vitamin B12 is important in the growth of cells. The body needs the cells to carry oxygen and nutrients to the body. B12 also works with the nervous system function. It makes up are bodies genetic material, and is essential for the production of red blood cells.
Vitamin B12 is Part of coenzymes used in new cell synthesis; helps to maintain nerve cells. Vitamin A Helps maintain good vision (necessary for night vision), resistance to infections, and supports growth and repair of body tissues. Vitamin D is part of the bone-making and bone maintenance team. Regulates absorption of calcium and phosphorus for bone health.
Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, and pantothenic acid are B vitamins needed to produce ATP from carbohydrate, fat, and protein. Vitamin B6 is important for amino acid metabolism as well as energy production. Folate is a coenzyme that is needed for cell division. Vitamin B12, only found in animal foods, is needed for nerve function and to activate folate. Vitamin C is needed to form connective tissue and acts as a watersoluble antioxidant. Vitamin A is essential for vision, and it regulates cell differentiation and growth. Vitamin D is necessary for bone health. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting.
However, absorption cannot occur in the absence of IF. Once in the circulation B12 binds to a transport protein and is taken to the liver, bone marrow, and other proliferating cells. Most individuals with normal absorption have no issue acquiring the needed daily amount. The cause of Malabsorption of both folate and B12 is from lack of IF, gastric surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and hyperthyroidism (Buttaro, Trybulski, Polgar Bailey, Sandberg-Cook, 2013). Healthy adults may consider taking supplemental crystalline vitamin B12 (Stabler, 2013). However, treatment is not necessary for asymptomatic anemia. Deficiency related to IF indicates a need for 1000 mcg of B12 intramuscular injections weekly for eight weeks and then monthly for life. Treatment for macrocytic anemia resulting from folate insufficiency is 1 mg of folic acid PO daily until the patient achieves an adequate hemoglobin level and indefinitely if patient has an underlying illness or an inadequate diet (Buttaro, Trybulski, Polgar Bailey, Sandberg-Cook,
Other sources of vitamin B₁₂ are dietary supplements, tablets/lozenges, and prescription medications. In dietary supplements the vitamin is the form of cyanocobalamin which the body changes to methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin. The ability to absorb the vitamin through the supplements is restricted due to the volume of the body’s intrinsic factor. Tablets/lozenges are known to have exceptional bioavailability. Prescription medications such as intramuscular injections can come in the form of cyanocobalamin or hydroxocobalamin and is used to treat vitamin B₁₂ deficiencies. Prescription medication can come in a gel form for people who would take it instead of injections and raises B₁₂levels in
Vitamins are primarily classified by solubility. Some vitamins are soluble in water and others are soluble in fat. “According to The National Institute of Health, the body needs 13 vitamins for normal health.” This includes vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B complex vitamins, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, B6, B12 and folate. Each of these vitamins provides a variety of functions to the body which can be obtained from a well balanced diet (Farris, 2012).
To understand why the public’s health is in a precipitous decline it’s best to first look into the case of nutritional deficiency; are we getting all the vitamins and minerals our bodies require? One of the core issues is the misinformation on what a vitamin really is and why one should be concerned about this. The Food and Drug Administration has a firm stance that these synthetic vitamins
One of the most vital nutrients for good health is vitamin B12. It comes from animal foods and is responsible for big things such as the synthesis of DNA and the sheath that protects the nerve cells. There are lots of things you could be doing to deplete the essential B12 your body needs, including eating an unhealthy diet, smoking, and drinking, but there are also things like pregnancy and growing older that can be affecting how much B12 your body is getting.
Although Folate has been used for 40 years to successfully reduce the risk of neural tube defects and related issues, there are still lingering concerns about its safety such as the masking effect it may have on populations at risk for or already deficient in vitamin B12. The recommended amount of Folate intake based on the RDAs is set at around 400mcg DFE – 600mcg DFE depending on gender and pregnancy status.1 This very level was set in order to achieve a status that prevents deficiency in the general population and neural tube defects in infants, while remaining low enough to avoid the potential masking effect Folate can have upon B12. Folate amounts higher than 5000mcg certainly can alleviate megaloblastic anemia when the presumed cause of anemia is a Folate deficiency.1 However, if Folate is not the underlying deficiency, these high levels can also attract medical attention away from a B12 deficiency, allowing neurological damage to become permanent. These risks extend further into the realm of neurological function due to the role of Folate and B12 as cofactors in the CNS, where high levels of Folate and low levels of B12 could result in reduced Methionine and elevated Homocysteine concentrations. Methionine plays a vital role in numerous methylation reactions throughout the body that are essential to the
The other half of the scientist think it has vitamin c because it has the same crystally effect but, the crystals are too big. When looking at the physical properties of vitamin c it looks like a bigger version of citric acid. Another physical property is the color. All the chemicals were white and had a crystally effect to them. Over time though, vitamin c turned yellow. When you had vitamin c and baking soda in the vile together next to baking soda and citric acid, the vile with vitamin c has bigger crystal’s in the mixture and baking soda and citric acid has small powdery
The Vitamin B6 is one of the eight vitamin B’s that help convert food into fuel and also help the body with metabolism. Another way this vitamin is important is that it’s needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. This vitamin also helps with the properly functioning of the nervous system. All
Vitamin C is an organic compound that is also known as ascorbic acid. The molecular formula for Vitamin C is C6O8H6. This structure contains a 5-membered ring. Vitamin C contains 4 alcohol functional groups, an alkene, and an ester. Within the ring it contains one double bond, the carbon=carbon bond in the ring structure, this is an alkene functional group. The Vitamin C structure also contains an ester which helps form the five-membered ring.
In M2 we have been set the question ‘What are vitamins – and who needs them’? Vitamins are essential substances that cannot be manufactured by the body. We need small amounts of vitamins for growth and development. Without vitamins the body cannot survive.
Biotin has been discovered in many similar ways which is in fact the reason as to why no one person can take the full accreditation to its discovery. Biotin is occasionally referred to as Vitamin H or vitamin B7 (Challem, 2008) , but it was not fully perceived until the 1900s. W. Bateman was a primary researcher in the discovery of the vitamin and made the most notable contributions to the findings of biotin. An additional discoverer was a scientist by the name of Fitz Kogl and Paul Gyrory. The two of them came together and created the name “biotin.”
Vitamin C is crucial for survival for several reasons. For a human body to reach the acme of its physical potential, it must have a daily intake of vitamin C. Deficiency can lead to a fatal symptom known as scurvy. Likewise, iron absorption will be more difficult resulting in iron-deficiency anemia (Smith, Primio & Humphrey-Murto, 2011). However, this nutrient is essential for bodily functions as well. Vitamin C is required for hormone production which is seen by the fact that the highest concentration of it in the human body is in the pituitary and adrenal glands (Emsley, 2004). Moreover, this vitamin aids in protection against free radicals and stress. Vitamin C is also imperative because it assists in the growth of various body parts, including teeth, cartilage, and dentine. This acid is integral for bone development and to heal fractured or broken bones. As said before, “Vitamin C is important in the absorption and metabolism of many nutrients that affect production of red blood cells”, including iron absorption (Smith, Primio, & Humphrey-Murto, 2011). DIRECT QUOTE WITHOUT AUTHOR. Similar to its importance to humans, vitamin C is vital for plant life as well. Plants require the alcohol for growth processes.