What is Cyanocobalamin?

[ pronounced: sigh-an-o-co-bal-a-min  | sī-ə-nō-kō-ˈba-lə-mən]

A tongue-twister for even the most seasoned dietitian, this infant formula ingredient is better known as vitamin B12, one of the eight water-soluble B vitamins. Specifically, cyanocobalamin is a manufactured form of vitamin B12 that is extremely easy to absorb. Its posh name stems in part from the mineral cobalt, which is part of this vitamin.

What Is B12 and What Does it Do?

Vitamin B12 is the name for a class of compounds that are biologically similar. The B12 vitamin family (vitamers) has four compounds, and cyanocobalamin is one of them. The family is known as the cobalamins, and B12 sometimes is referred to generically as cobalamin.

A water-soluble vitamin, B12 is the most chemically complex of all vitamins. It plays important biological roles in forming red blood cells, keeping nerves functioning, and in making DNA.

This manufactured version of B12 has an advantage over the forms found in food. In food, B12 is bound to protein, and it must be freed from the protein in the stomach before it can be absorbed. The manufactured version does not require this step and moves easily to the small intestine to be absorbed.

Regulations and Safety

The European Commission requires between 0.1 and 0.5 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B12 per every 100 calories of prepared formula. The US FDA requires a minimum 0.15 mcg per 100 calories of formula. No upper limit is set.

Dietary Considerations

Neither plants nor animals make vitamin B12, which can be concerning to some vegan families. This article, published by the Vegan Society, is an excellent resource about veganism and vitamin B12.