What Are the Three Types of Vitamin B12?

The Three Types of Vitamin B12

This nutrient, known for its ability to keep blood and nerve cells in the body healthy, also comes in three types. Commonly known as ‘Vitamin B12’, each of these three exist in a very similar chemical form, namely:

1. Methylcobalamin
2. Cyanocobalamin
3. Hydroxocobalamin

We'll cover these forms below and go, including what they are and how they work together to help build DNA and keep the body healthy. 

1. Methylcobalamin

Methylcobalamin is a naturally occurring coenzyme that is found in food sources. It works synergistically in slightly different ways to cover most of your Vitamin B12 needs. Methylcobalamin is the most bioavailable type of B12 which means the body absorbs it more easily. Naturally occurring, it is found in animal-based foods such as meat, fish, milk, and eggs so Methylcobalamin B12 is readily available in many people’s daily diet. It is the most active form of Vitamin B12 and is used mainly in the liver, brain, and nervous system.

2. Cyanocobalamin

Cyanocobalamin is a synthetic form of B12 which the body converts into Methylcobalamin before it can be used. The most common and cost-effective form of Vitamin B12, Cyanocobalamin is most often found in supplements and some fortified foods.  Cyanocobalamin is an artificial form of B12 which the body converts into the active forms of Methylcobalamin, ready for use. Cyanocobalamin B12 contains a cyanide molecule that gives it stability in products and the body.

3. Hydroxocobalamin

Hydroxocobalamin is a highly bioavailable form of Vitamin B12 that is used to treat people with serious deficiencies. Hydroxocobalamin is naturally produced by bacteria in the digestive tract when food sources are broken down. It can also be developed in a laboratory by extracting it from microorganisms. This form of B12 is readily converted by the body into Methylcobalamin ready for the cells to absorb and use it.

Summary

Between these three forms, getting the right amount of B12 in your system daily can offer the benefits of helping convert food into energy, strengthening immunities in the body, and the growth of brain cells.  Its function in red blood cells is integral to keeping our bodies running smoothly and, when consumed or intravenously administered safely into the body, can be just the added boost many people need.

The most efficient and effective way to get vitamins like B12 into the system is through IVs, which absorb at a much higher rate than supplements.  Search your area for a B12 IV bag administered safely by registered nurses.