Definition: Cyanocobalamin is an especially common vitamer of the B-12 vitamin family. Cyanocobalamin does not occur in nature, but is used as a supplement and food additive, due to its stability. It is converted to other forms of the vitamin which are actually used in chemical reactions in the body.
Cyanocobalamin can be metabolized in the body to an active co-enzyme form. However, the cyanocobalamin form of B-12 does not occur in nature normally, but is a byproduct of the fact that other forms of B-12 are avid binders of cyanide (-CN) which they pick up in the process of activated charcoal purification of the vitamin after it is made by bacteria in the commercial process.
Since the cyanocobalamin form of B-12 is deeply red colored, easy to crystallize, and is not sensitive to air-oxidation, it is typically used as a form of B-12 for food additives and in many common multivitamins.
However, this form is not perfectly synonymous with B-12, inasmuch as a number of substances (vitamers) have B-12 vitamin activity and can properly be labeled vitamin B-12, and cyanocobalamin is but one of them. (Thus, all cyanocobalamin is vitamin B-12, but not all vitamin B-12 is cyanocobalamin).
Function
See also
hydroxocobalamin
methylcobalamin
vitamin B12