Chemical Name, Sources and Deficiency Diseases of Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B6

Chemical Name, Sources and Deficiency Diseases of Vitamin B12

Chemical Name : Cyanocobalamine

The structure of Vitamin B12 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sources : It is not present in the foods. This vitamin is synthesised by the bacteria present in the intestine and supply to our body.

Deficiency Diseases : Pernicious anaemia.

Daily requirements of vitamin B12 : (in micrograms)

• Men – 1 IU
• Women – 1 IU
• Pregnant mothers – 105 IU
• Boys – 1 IU (16 to 18 years)
• Girls – 1 IU (16 to 18 years)

1 microgram=40 IU The other name of the vitamin B12 is cyanocobalamin. It has an important role in the metabolism of nucleic acids and in protein synthesis. This vitamin is synthesised by the intestinal bacteria and supply it to our body as it is readily not available in the foods. This vitamin is mainly stored in the liver. Deficiency of this vitamin leads to pernicious anaemia.

vitamin 6, b12, b36 (Photo credit: Iqbal Osman1)

Chemical Name, Sources and Deficiency Diseases of Vitamin B6

Chemical Name : Pyridoxine

Sources : Milk, liver, meat, egg yolk, fish, whole grain cereals, legumes and vegetables.

Deficiency Diseases : Anaemia, hyperirritability and disorders of the nervous system. The other name of the vitamin B6 is pyridoxine. It has an important role in the metabolism of amino acids. It is available in foods like milk, liver, egg yolk, fish, grain cereals, legumes and vegetables. Its deficiency results in hyper irritability, nausea, anaemia, vomiting. In children deficiency causes convulsions.