Overview of Methylcobalamin Injection

Dosage Strength

General Information

A B-vitamin is methylcobalamin, sometimes known as vitamin B12. It can be found in a wide range of foods, including dairy, meat, fish, and shellfish. Despite the fact that the phrases “methylcobalamin” and “vitamin B12” are frequently used interchangeably, there is also vitamin B12 in the form of hydroxocobalamin, a less frequently given medication (see the hydroxocobalamin monograph), and methylcobalamin. Methylcobalamin is used to diagnose vitamin B12 absorption in the Schilling test, treat pernicious anemia, and supplement vitamin B12 insufficiency. Meat, eggs, and dairy products all contain the necessary vitamin B12 for human health. The elderly, strict vegetarians (i.e., vegans), and patients with malabsorption issues are more prone to become deficient than healthy individuals because deficiencies are uncommon in these groups. Without treatment for vitamin B12 insufficiency with a vitamin B12 supplement, anemia, digestive issues, and irreparable nerve damage may develop.

Methylcobalamin, the most chemically intricate of all the vitamins, is an organometallic compound that is water soluble and contains a trivalent cobalt ion bound inside a corrin ring. This ring is similar to the porphyrin ring found in heme, chlorophyll, and cytochrome but has two of the pyrrole rings directly bonded instead of being connected by a porphyrin bond. Co is the main metal ion (cobalt). Only bacteria and archaea possess the enzymes necessary for the synthesis of methylcobalamin; neither plants nor animals are capable of producing this vitamin. Higher plants are a poor source of methylcobalamin compared to animal tissues because they do not concentrate the vitamin from the soil.