| Vitamin B12
/ Cyanocobalamin (Page 1)
Excerpt from and my appreciation to:
http://www.bartleby.com/65/vi/vitamin.html vitamin: A group of organic substances that are required in the diet of humans and animals for normal growth, maintenance of life, and normal reproduction... If viewed at above web-page linked above, scroll down to section #16 to see Vitamin B12 ... 16
Vitamin B12
The molecular structure of vitamin B12 vitamin. B12 (cobalamin), the most complex of all known vitamins, was announced in 1955 by several scientists, including British biochemists A. R. Todd and Dorothy Hodgkin. In 1973 the vitamin was reported to have been synthesized by organic chemists. Vitamin B12 and closely related cobalamins are necessary for folic acid to fulfill its role; both are involved in the synthesis of proteins. American physicians G. R. Minot and W. P. Murphy in 1926 fed large amounts of liver to patients with pernicious anemia and cured them; the curative substance in this case was probably vitamin B12. However, pernicious anemia in humans is caused not by a vitamin B12 deficiency in the diet but rather the absence of a substance called the intrinsic factor, ordinarily secreted by the stomach and responsible for facilitating the absorption of B12 from the intestine. When a person's body cannot produce the intrinsic factor, the standard treatment today is to inject vitamin B12 directly into the bloodstream. Minot and Murphy’s therapy worked because the liver they fed their patients contained such large quantities of B12 that sufficient amounts of the vitamin were absorbed without the assistance of the intrinsic factor. Inadequate absorption of B12 causes pernicious anemia, nervous system degeneration, and amenorrhea. The only site of cobalamin synthesis in nature appears to be in microorganisms*; neither animals nor higher plants are capable of making these vitamin B12 derivatives. Nevertheless, such animal tissues as the liver, kidney, and heart of ruminants contain relatively large quantities of vitamin B12; the vitamin stored in these organs was originally produced by the (Cyano-) bacteria in the ruminant gut. Bivalves (clams or oysters), which siphon microorganisms* from the sea, are also good sources. Plants, on the other hand, are poor sources of (concentrated)** vitamin B12. The recommended daily dietary allowance for adults is 3 (? see all below) micrograms.
My notes and added information for above: microorganisms*
(concentrated**) --
my
insertion to the Columbia Encyclopedia's text, 2nd to last line above.
*** serum (blood stream) levels of B12 is not always a good indication of true internal, intra-/inter-cellular, metabolic, B12 functional levels. It is also (now) known that the cells are very conservative with B12; keeping appropriate stores of it within the cells themselves, recycling it within the intra-cellular (inside) chemistry and allowing only what is necessary in inter-cellular (between cells) chemistry to be exported, hence not requiring (as was previously presumed) high levels of B12 to be carried in blood flow to replenish it. -- tlr 7/3/03 Standard medicine has seriously erred in violation of honored Koch postulates and true scientific method, by producing unnatural high average blood level standards for B12, and assuming them as the correct human mean -- based upon hematological data accumulated and calculated in the cross-section of primarily heavily carnivorous USA/Industrial world humans! Not a true or honest measure for serum B12 levels for all of humanity, nor for creation's biologically intended, apparent and correct human nutrition, chemistry and physiology!
The original concern over Vitamin B12 deficiency (based on research started before three quarters of a century ago and completed over a half century ago) was a perceived relationship in poor health conditions called "pernicious anima" (and other closely related neurological and physiological malfunctions). It now has been established that the true cause of this group of maladies is a failure in the bodies own ability to produce its own correct "intrinsic factor", a compound associated with B12's intra/intercellular transport and use -- which is ill-formed in a hydrochloric acid and bile abused (a condition specifically triggered by the corrosive digestion required for complex, high molecular weight, dense animal proteins and fats within a) malnourished, malfunctioning, or chemically damaged (or rarely, a genetically flawed) intestinal tract -- rather than the old belief that the cause was (as presumed) a Vitamin B12 intake or (a test determined*) serum level deficiency! -- This error in perception, diagnoses and treatment does persist, even to date among too many non-current or incompletely educated health practitioners, their older peers, administrations and dependent government health and welfare agencies! -- tlr 7/2/03 *Remember, these test protocols and standards were determined over a half century year ago, and also were based on generally highly carnivorous, western human models.
Personal references: Veterinary & Human Biology & Pathology education and reference books / personal Human, Animal, Livestock and Marine (algae) research and experience -- and required knowledge for good livestock production and profit -- in my past. I will try to improve upon and expand this page later as my resources/time
allow. In the meantime, you may see a reference to intestinal (microvilli)
repair at LDSVeg.org/Raw.htm#microvilli,
and other intestine and whole body healing and nutritional information
on LifeSave.org, VeganCowboy.org,
WaterAndLife.org
and our other subject specific sites (listed on Lifesave.org and VeganCowboy.org)
(Questions? - call me. 801-298-9095, active Caller ID required, displayed
and recorded, or Email LifeSaveIn@aol.com
or mail PO Box 304 Bountiful Utah 84011-0304)
Appreciation to my wife and family: Constructing this page has taken more than three full days away from family and real income producing work (which also goes to cover this labors total costs including the necessary ongoing internet debts). This required the confirming in all my old references, personal texts and notes from forty years education and experience back; then the time and concentration to ponder, recheck my supporting data, organize, write, edit, rewrite re-edit -- and I am probably still not finished with refining it for you! My hope is you will be benefited, have correct knowledge, prove it yourself as is possible, and that you will appreciate this labor and sacrifice (especially that which affects and leaves my family short) for you, the reader! -- tlr  |