Natural Medicines Newsletter

Volume 2, Issue 28, 07/20/2010

Question

What physiological reasons other than hemoglobin synthesis for red blood cells do patients require the proper amount of vitamin B12?

Answer

Most healthcare professionals commonly think of vitamin B12 (cobalamin; cyanocobalamin) as being necessary for proper hemoglobin synthesis in the formation of red blood cells (RBC).  Furthermore, it is also necessary for the purpose of preventing or treating megaloblastic anemia also known as a macrocytic anemia (RBCs with larger than normal cell volumes; i.e., increased mean corpuscular volumes (MCV)).  While this is true and very important, there are a number of other physiologic or biologic reactions that also rely on the availability of vitamin B12 as summarized below in the table.(1-4)

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