Vitamin B 12

**Definition:** A cobalt-containing coordination compound produced by intestinal micro-organisms and found also in soil and water. Higher plants do not concentrate vitamin B 12 from the soil and so are a poor source of the substance as compared with animal tissues. INTRINSIC FACTOR is important for the assimilation of vitamin B 12.

**Tree numbers:** - D03.383.129.578.840.437.777 - D03.633.400.909.437.777 - D04.345.783.437.777

**Synonyms:** - Cyanocobalamin - Vitamin B12