It is naturally occurring and may be found in animal-based foods such as meat, fish, milk, and eggs, making it a staple in many people's diets. Methylcobalamin is by far the most bio-available form of Vitamin B12, meaning it is more easily absorbed by the body.

The active form of Vitamin B12 is methylcobalamin. Traditional vitamin B12 formulations for insufficiency have been cyanocobalamin or hydroxocobalamin supplement.

Vitamin B12 insufficiency is a frequent nutrient shortage that causes haematological and neurological symptoms. Is hydroxocobalamin supplement the same as methylcobalamin? It has a cyanide molecule in it, which makes it stable in products and the body. It can also be extracted from microorganisms and developed in a lab.Ĭyanocobalamin is a synthetic version of Vitamin B12 that the body processes to the active forms Methylcobalamin and Adenosylcobalamin. When food sources are broken down, microorganisms in the digestive tract make hydroxocobalamin. It can only be obtained with a prescription and is generally given as an intramuscular injection or as an IV drip. Hydroxocobalamin is a type of Vitamin B12 that is extremely bio-available and used to treat patients who have a severe shortage. However, cyanocobalamin is recommended in the United States because hydroxocobalamin may trigger inappropriate immunological responses in some individuals. Because it binds more strongly to plasma proteins and is thus maintained in the body longer, hydroxocobalamin is the treatment of choice for vitamin B12 insufficiency in the United Kingdom. Vitamin B12 insufficiency is treated and prevented using cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin. Vitamin B12 exists in the following four forms:Ĭyanocobalamin vs Methylcobalamin vs Hydroxocobalamin What is the difference between cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin?

Hydroxocobalamin for cyanide poisoning