Chapter 29, Problem 40P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The common symptoms of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency should be identified.

Concept Introduction:

Vitamins are essential micronutrients. The B₁₂ vitamin is commonly associated to breathlessness, numbness, poor balance and memory trouble. It is chemical complex of all the vitamins. The structure contains a corrin ring like the porphyrin ring present in heme. The central metal ion is cobalt which is coordinated to corrin ring in four of the six coordination sites. The fifth coordination site is coordinated with a dimethyl benzimidazole group. The sixth coordination site is reactive center which is variable, this can be cyano group, hydroxyl group, or methyl group or 5’-deoxyadenosyl group resulting four forms of B₁₂.