Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally found in some foods and added to others. B12 deficiency is fairly common, affecting 6% to 23% of people under age 60 and nearly 20% of those over age 60. Malnutrition, vegetarian or vegan diet, gastritis, and alcohol misuse are all contributing factors. There is mounting evidence that B12-DNA interactions regulate lipid metabolism and play a role in fat deposition.

B12 is essential for growth, cellular reproduction, blood formation, neurological function, and DNA and protein synthesis, among other things. B12 also helps with red blood cell formation and glucose metabolism. Efficiently metabolizing carbohydrates and producing red blood cells that optimally transport oxygen to hardworking muscle and brain tissue boosts your overall energy and mental clarity.

Methionine is an essential amino acid that the body cannot make. Therefore, it must be obtained in the diet. L-methionine supplies the body with sulfur. Sulfur is essential for hair, skin, and nail growth and repair. It is also involved in the production of lecithin, which helps to minimize liver fat and protect the kidneys. Methionine may also protect against heavy metals, act as an antioxidant, and protect against chemical-induced liver damage.

Inositol, in its phosphate form, is a naturally occurring sugar abundant in cell membranes, plasma lipoproteins, and the nucleus. Inositol is a nutrient that is used in cell signaling. It contributes to cell structure, metabolism, fat burning, energy storage, energy consumption, and the stress response.

Choline is an integral component of cell membranes, aids in DNA production, functions as a cell-signaling molecule, and helps decrease homocysteine levels, a risk factor for heart disease. As a component of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, choline plays a vital role in the brain. Researchers are studying the role of choline in memory and mood disorders.

Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin because it is obtained entirely through diet. Vitamin B12 is found in animal products and fortified foods in the diet, but it can also be taken as a supplement.

When bound to the food we eat, vitamin B12 is released from protein by hydrochloric acid and an enzyme called gastric protease. When vitamin B12 is added to food or taken as a supplement, it is already in a free form and does not need to be released. Once vitamin B12 is free, it combines with intrinsic factor in the stomach.

Intrinsic factor is a glycoprotein secreted by specialized cells lining the stomach called parietal cells. The combined intrinsic factor vitamin B12 is absorbed into the body in the ileum, which is the most distal part of the small intestine. Vitamin B12 then binds to transcobalamin, and the complex moves through the bloodstream. The complex is absorbed into cells. Approximately two years’ worth of vitamin B12 is stored in the liver.

Methionine is used for protein synthesis. It is converted to homocysteine and SAM. SAM is a methyl donor that is involved in many steps in lipid metabolism. SAM contributes to the formation of phosphatidylethanolamine and subsequently to phosphatidylcholine. Phosphatidylcholine is involved in producing very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). VLDLs prevent fat accumulation in the liver. When fat is mobilized from the liver, it can be burned for energy.

SAM is also a methyl donor used to produce creatine. Creatine is a protein that helps muscle cells produce energy.

Myoinositol is transformed into phosphatidylinositol in the body, where it is used to make the cell membranes. Phosphatidylinositol levels influence hormones that regulate metabolism, energy usage and storage, and the stress response. Inositol can stimulate glucose uptake from the blood into skeletal muscle, resulting in decreased blood glucose levels. Decreased blood glucose levels reduce the risk for insulin resistance and promote carbohydrate use for energy.

Choline is used to synthesize phospholipids, which are essential components of cell membranes. The phospholipid phosphatidylcholine is also important in packaging fat consumed in the diet. Without adequate phosphatidylcholine, fat and cholesterol may accumulate in the liver. In clinical trials, choline supplementation led to rapid fat and weight loss in female athletes.

Choline is also a precursor for acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in stimulating muscular contractions, maintaining circadian rhythms, enhancing memory, and other functions. It is a vital source of methyl groups that are required to methylate homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease. Choline is essential for optimal liver, muscle, and brain function.