How Is B12 Manufactured?

Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient for the body. Because B12 cannot be produced in the body, the only way to get it is through foods like liver and eggs or from supplements. But B12 has a complicated structure and is not easily synthesized or manufactured.

Expert Insight

• According to the Microbiology Procedures website, the "primary source" of vitamin B12 comes from microorganisms or bacteria.

Types

• There are numerous bacteria that are used for the synthesis of B12. Some of the more commonly known are salmonella and streptomycetes, both of which can also cause illness and disease.

Features

• Because of the intricacy of synthesizing B12 and the length of time necessary, biotechnology is mostly used in the production of the vitamin, reports the GMO-Compass.org website. In fact, some bacteria are "genetically modified" for B12 synthesis.

History

• According to Scripps.edu, Albert Eschenmoser and Robert Burns Woodward worked together at Harvard to first synthesize B12. The process took 12 years.

Fun Fact

• The scientific name for B12 is cobalamin.