Description
Xobaline: What do vegetarian diets and Alzheimer’s have in common?
are unique vitamins in that they contain the mineral cobalt. Only two of the cobalamins actually play active roles in the body’s biochemistry, however — these are methylcobalamin and S-adenosylcobalamin. Since the methyl- and adenosyl- forms are interconvertable, a dietary source that contains methylcobalamin also serves as
a source of S-adenosylcobalamin.
The cobalamins are
made only by microorganisms, not by plants
or animals. This means that animals must obtain them either
from their diet or from microorganisms living in their bodies.
For example, cows get their vitamin B12 from gut-dwelling bacteria.
Since the cobalamins are stored in animal cells, carnivores can
get their vitamin B12 by eating meat, even though they don’t
themselves have B12-producing gut-dwelling bacteria. Herbivores
that lack B12-producing bacteria (such as human vegetarians
or pet animals) will develop B12 deficiencies unless they use
some kind of B12 supplement. In fact, it has been found that
around 60-70% of vegetarians have vitamin B12 deficiencies!
Left untreated, such deficiencies will eventually do permanent damage to
the body.
Synonyms: methylcobalamin, mecobalamin,
methyl-B12, methyl vitamin B12, Vancomin
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