Cyanocobalamin

2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Chemical compounds

Cyanocobalamin
Systematic ( IUPAC) name
?
Identifiers
CAS number	68-19-9
ATC code	B03 BB01
PubChem	5479203
DrugBank	APRD00326
Chemical data
Formula	C63H88CoN14O14P
Mol. weight	1355.37 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	readily absorbed in lower half ileum
Protein binding	Very high to specific transcobalamins plasma proteins Binding of hydroxocobalamin is slightly higher than cyanocobalamin.
Metabolism	hepatic
Half life	Approximately 6 days (400 days in the liver)
Excretion	renal
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status	POM(UK)
Routes	oral, iv

Cyanocobalamin is a vitamin commonly known as vitamin B₁₂ (or B₁₂ for short).

The name vitamin B₁₂ is used in two different ways. In a broad sense it refers to a group of cobalt-containing compounds known as cobalamins - cyanocobalamin (an artifact formed as a result of the use of cyanide in the purification procedures), hydroxocobalamin and the two coenzyme forms of B₁₂, methylcobalamin (MeB₁₂) and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin ( adenosylcobalamin - AdoB₁₂). In a more specific way, the term B₁₂ is used to refer to only one of these forms, cyanocobalamin, which is the principal B₁₂ form used for foods and in nutritional supplements.

Pseudo-B₁₂ refers to B₁₂-like substances which are found in certain organisms; however, these substances do not have B₁₂ biological activity for humans.

Structure

B₁₂ is the most chemically complex of all the vitamins. The structure of B₁₂ is based on a corrin ring, which is similar to the porphyrin ring found in heme, chlorophyll, and cytochrome. The central metal ion is Co (cobalt). Four of the six coordination sites are provided by the corrin ring, and a fifth by a dimethylbenzimidazole group. The sixth coordination site, the centre of reactivity, is variable, being a cyano group (-CN), a hydroxyl group (-OH), a methyl group (-CH₃) or a 5'-deoxy adenosyl group (here the C5' atom of the deoxyribose forms the covalent bond with Co), respectively, to yield the four B₁₂ forms mentioned above. The covalent C-Co bond is the only carbon-metal bond known in biology.

Synthesis

B₁₂ cannot be made by plants or by animals, as the only type of organisms that have the enzymes required for the synthesis of B₁₂ are bacteria and archaea. The total synthesis of B₁₂ was reported in 1973 by Robert Burns Woodward, and remains one of the classic feats of total synthesis.

Functions

Coenzyme B₁₂'s reactive C-Co bond participates in two types of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

1. Rearrangements in which a hydrogen atom is directly transferred between two adjacent atoms with concomitant exchange of the second substituent, X, which may be a carbon atom with substituents, an oxygen atom of an alcochol, or an amine.
2. Methyl (-CH₃) group transfers between two molecules.

In humans there are only two coenzyme B₁₂-dependent enzymes:

1. MUT which uses the AdoB₁₂ form and reaction type 1 to catalyze a carbon skeleton rearrangement (the X group is -COSCoA). MUT's reaction converts MMl-CoA to Su-CoA, an important step in the extraction of energy from proteins and fats (for more see MUT's reaction mechanism)
2. MTR, a methyl transfer enzyme, which uses the MeB₁₂ and reaction type 2 to catalyzes the conversion of the amino acid Hcy into Met (for more see MTR's reaction mechanism).

History as a treatment for anaemia

B₁₂ deficiency is the cause of several forms of anaemia. The treatment for this disease was first devised by William Murphy who bled dogs to make them anaemia and then fed them various substances to see what (if anything) would make them healthy again. He discovered that ingesting large amounts of liver seemed to cure the disease. George Minot and George Whipple then set about to chemically isolate the curative substance and ultimately were able to isolate vitamin B₁₂ from the liver. For this, all three shared the 1934 Nobel Prize in Medicine.

The chemical structure of the molecule was determined by Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin and her team in 1956, based on crystallographic data.

Other medical uses

Hydroxycobalamin is used in Europe as a treatment for cyanide poisoning, with a large amount (5-10 g) given intravenously, in combination with sodium thiosulfate. The treatment is marketed under the tradename Cyanokit . The mechanism of action is straightforward, the hydroxycobalamin hydroxide ligand is displaced by the toxic cyanide ion, and the resulting harmless B₁₂ is excreted in urine.

Deficiency

The usual daily intake in the Western diet is 5–7 µg ( Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Daily Value ); the daily requirement is 1–2 µg. B₁₂ is mostly absorbed in the terminal ileum. The production of intrinsic factor in the stomach is vital to absorption of this vitamin. Megaloblastic anaemia can result from inadequate intake of B₁₂, inadequate production of intrinsic factor (pernicious anaemia), disorders of the terminal ileum resulting in malabsorption, or by competition for available B₁₂ (such as fish tapeworms or bacteria present in blind loop syndrome).

Hematological deficiency is manifested primarily by anaemia and macrocytosis; other cell lines such as white blood cells and platelets are often also low. Bone marrow examination may show megaloblastic hemopoiesis. Serum homocysteine and methylmalonic acid levels are also high in B₁₂ deficiency and can be helpful if the diagnosis is unclear.

Neurological signs of B₁₂ deficiency, which can occur without accompanying hematologic abnormalities, include demyelination and irreversible nerve cell death. Symptoms include numbness or tingling of the extremities and an ataxic gait, a syndrome known as subacute combined degeneration of the cord.

The American Psychiatric Association's American Journal of Psychiatry has published studies showing a relationship between depression levels and deficient B₁₂ blood levels in elderly people in 2000 and 2002 .

Diagnosis of B₁₂ deficiency

Serum B₁₂ levels are often low in B₁₂ deficiency, but there does not exist a robust assay, and if other features of B12 deficiency are present then the diagnosis must not be discounted. One possible explanation for normal B₁₂ levels in B₁₂ deficiency is antibody interference in people with high titres of intrinsic factor antibody. Bone marrow aspiration, serum homocysteine and methylmalonic acid levels can also be helpful.

Treatment of B12 deficiency

Traditionally, treatment for B₁₂ deficiency was through intramuscular injections of cyanocobalamin. However, it has recently been appreciated that deficiency can be treated with oral B₁₂ supplements when given in sufficient doses. When given in oral doses ranging from 0.1–2 mg daily, B₁₂ can be absorbed in a pathway that does not require an intact ileum or intrinsic factor. The Schilling test can determine whether symptoms of B₁₂ deficiency are caused by lack of intrinsic factor, though this is being performed less often due to the lack of availability of reagent for the test.

Allergies

Vitamin B12 supplements should be avoided in people sensitive or allergic to cobalamin, cobalt or any other product ingredients.

Side effects, contraindications, and warnings

• Cardiovascular: Caution should be used in patients undergoing angioplasty since an intravenous loading dose of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 followed by oral administration of folic acid 1.2mg plus vitamin B6 48mg and vitamin B12 60mcg taken daily after coronary stenting might actually increase restenosis rates. Due to the potential for harm this combination of vitamins should not be recommended for patients receiving coronary stents.
• Dermatologic: Itching, rash, transitory exanthema, and urticaria have been reported. Vitamin B12 (20 micrograms/day) and pyridoxine (80mg/day) has been associated with cases of rosacea fulminans, characterized by intense erythema with nodules, papules, and pustules. Symptoms may persist for up to 4 months after the supplement is stopped, and may require treatment with systemic corticosteroids and topical therapy.

• Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea has been reported.
• Hematologic: Peripheral vascular thrombosis has been reported. Treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency can unmask polycythemia vera, which is characterized by an increase in blood volume and the number of red blood cells. The correction of megaloblastic anaemia with vitamin B12 can result in fatal hypokalemia and gout in susceptible individuals, and it can obscure folate deficiency in megaloblastic anaemia. Caution is warranted.

• Leber's disease: Vitamin B12 is contraindicated in early Leber's disease, which is hereditary optic nerve atrophy. Vitamin B12 can cause severe and swift optic atrophy.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Vitamin B12 is likely safe when used orally in amounts that do not exceed the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). The RDA for vitamin B12 in pregnant women is 2.6mcg per day and 2.8mcg during lactation periods.

There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of consuming greater amounts of Vitamin B12 during pregnancy.

Interactions

Interactions with drugs

• Alcohol (ethanol): Excessive alcohol intake lasting longer than two weeks can decrease vitamin B12 absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.
• Aminosalicylic acid (para-aminosalicylic acid, PAS, Paser): Aminosalicylic acid can reduce oral vitamin B12 absorption, possibly by as much as 55%, as part of a general malabsorption syndrome. Megaloblastic changes, and occasional cases of symptomatic anaemia have occurred, usually after doses of 8 to 12 grams/day for several months. Vitamin B12 levels should be monitored in people taking aminosalicylic acid for more than one month.
• Antibiotics: An increased bacterial load can bind significant amounts of vitamin B12 in the gut, preventing its absorption. In people with bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel, antibiotics such as metronidazole (Flagyl®) can actually improve vitamin B12 status. The effects of most antibiotics on gastrointestinal bacteria are unlikely to have clinically significant effects on vitamin B12 levels.
• Birth control pills: The data regarding the effects of oral contraceptives on vitamin B12 serum levels are conflicting. Some studies have found reduced serum levels in oral contraceptive users, but others have found no effect despite use of oral contraceptives for up to 6 months. When oral contraceptive use is stopped, normalization of vitamin B12 levels usually occurs. Lower vitamin B12 serum levels seen with oral contraceptives probably are not clinically significant.
• Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin®): Limited case reports suggest that chloramphenicol can delay or interrupt the reticulocyte response to supplemental vitamin B12 in some patients. Blood counts should be monitored closely if this combination cannot be avoided.
• Cobalt irradiation: Cobalt irradiation of the small bowel can decrease gastrointestinal (GI) absorption of vitamin B12.
• Colchicine: Colchicine in doses of 1.9 to 3.9mg/day can disrupt normal intestinal mucosal function, leading to malabsorption of several nutrients, including vitamin B12. Lower doses do not seem to have a significant effect on vitamin B12 absorption after 3 years of colchicine therapy. The significance of this interaction is unclear. Vitamin B12 levels should be monitored in people taking large doses of colchicine for prolonged periods.
• Colestipol (Colestid®), Cholestyramine (Questran®): These resins used for sequestering bile acids in order to decrease cholesterol, can decrease gastrointestinal (GI) absorption of vitamin B12. It is unlikely that this interaction will deplete body stores of vitamin B12 unless there are other factors contributing to deficiency. In a group of children treated with cholestyramine for up to 2.5 years there was not any change in serum vitamin B12 levels. Routine supplements are not necessary.
• H₂ blockers: include cimetidine (Tagamet®), famotidine (Pepcid®), nizatidine (Axid®), and ranitidine (Zantac®). Reduced secretion of gastric acid and pepsin produced by H₂ blockers can reduce absorption of protein-bound (dietary) vitamin B12, but not of supplemental vitamin B12. Gastric acid is needed to release vitamin B12 from protein for absorption. Clinically significant vitamin B12 deficiency and megaloblastic anaemia are unlikely, unless H₂ blocker therapy is prolonged (2 years or more), or the person's diet is poor. It is also more likely if the person is rendered achlorhydric (with complete absence of gastric acid secretion), which occurs more frequently with proton pump inhibitors than H₂ blockers. Vitamin B12 levels should be monitored in people taking high doses of H₂ blockers for prolonged periods.
• Metformin (Glucophage®): Metformin may reduce serum folic acid and vitamin B12 levels. These changes can lead to hyperhomocysteinemia, adding to the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes. There are also rare reports of megaloblastic anaemia in people who have taken metformin for 5 years or more. Reduced serum levels of vitamin B12 occur in up to 30% of people taking metformin chronically. However, clinically significant deficiency is not likely to develop if dietary intake of vitamin B12 is adequate. Deficiency can be corrected with vitamin B12 supplements even if metformin is continued. The metformin-induced malabsorption of vitamin B12 is reversible by oral calcium supplementation. The general clinical significance of Metformin upon B12 levels is as yet unknown.
• Neomycin: Absorption of vitamin B12 can be reduced by neomycin, but prolonged use of large doses is needed to induce pernicious anaemia. Supplements are not usually needed with normal doses.
• Nicotine: Nicotine can reduce serum vitamin B12 levels. The need for vitamin B12 supplementation has not been adequately studied.
• Nitrous oxide: Nitrous oxide inactivates the cobalamin form of vitamin B12 by oxidation. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, including sensory neuropathy, myelopathy, and encephalopathy, can occur within days or weeks of exposure to nitrous oxide anesthesia in people with subclinical vitamin B12 deficiency. Symptoms are treated with high doses of vitamin B12, but recovery can be slow and incomplete. People with normal vitamin B12 levels have sufficient vitamin B12 stores to make the effects of nitrous oxide insignificant, unless exposure is repeated and prolonged (nitrous oxide abuse). Vitamin B12 levels should be checked in people with risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency prior to using nitrous oxide anesthesia.
• Phenytoin (Dilantin®), phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline®): These anticonvulsants have been associated with reduced vitamin B12 absorption, and reduced serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels in some patients. This may contribute to the megaloblastic anemia, primarily caused by folate deficiency, associated with these drugs. It's also suggested that reduced vitamin B12 levels may contribute to the neuropsychiatric side effects of these drugs. Patients should be encouraged to maintain adequate dietary vitamin B12 intake. Folate and vitamin B12 status should be checked if symptoms of anaemia develop.
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): The PPIs include omeprazole (Prilosec®, Losec®), lansoprazole (Prevacid®), rabeprazole (Aciphex®), pantoprazole (Protonix®, Pantoloc®), and esomeprazole (Nexium®). The reduced secretion of gastric acid and pepsin produced by PPIs can reduce absorption of protein-bound (dietary) vitamin B12, but not supplemental vitamin B12. Gastric acid is needed to release vitamin B12 from protein for absorption. Reduced vitamin B12 levels may be more common with PPIs than with H2-blockers, because they are more likely to produce achlorhydria (complete absence of gastric acid secretion). However, clinically significant vitamin B12 deficiency is unlikely, unless PPI therapy is prolonged (2 years or more) or dietary vitamin intake is low. Vitamin B12 levels should be monitored in people taking high doses of PPIs for prolonged periods.
• Zidovudine (AZT, Combivir®, Retrovir®): Reduced serum vitamin B12 levels may occur when zidovudine therapy is started. This adds to other factors that cause low vitamin B12 levels in people with HIV, and might contribute to the hematological toxicity associated with zidovudine. However, data suggests vitamin B12 supplements are not helpful for people taking zidovudine.

Interactions with herbs and dietary supplements

• Folic acid: Folic acid, particularly in large doses, can mask vitamin B12 deficiency. In vitamin B12 deficiency, folic acid can produce hematologic improvement in megaloblastic anaemia, while allowing potentially irreversible neurological damage to progress. Vitamin B12 status should be determined before folic acid is given as monotherapy.
• Potassium: Potassium supplements can reduce absorption of vitamin B12 in some people. This effect has been reported with potassium chloride and, to a lesser extent, with potassium citrate. Potassium might contribute to vitamin B12 deficiency in some people with other risk factors, but routine supplements are not necessary.
• Vitamin C: Preliminary evidence suggests that vitamin C supplements can destroy dietary vitamin B12. However, other components of food, such as iron and nitrates, might counteract this effect. Clinical significance is unknown, and it can likely be avoided if vitamin C supplements are taken at least 2 hours after meals.