B vitamins have long been touted for their myriad roles within the body. According to research, they may help increase energy levels, support brain functions and help regulate moods.

Industrial production of vitamin B12 involves fermentation using specific microorganisms (7-10 days in giant vats with volumes over 100,000L). Once extracted, this essential nutrient can then be recovered through precipitation, chromatography and crystallisation processes.

Energy Booster

B complex vitamins play an essential role in energy production by helping convert food molecules to fuel your body needs for energy use. They also play an essential part in creating neurotransmitters which send signals between nerve cells, as well as contributing to producing fatty acids, amino acids and glucose production processes. Without sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 available to them, individuals may often feel fatigued and reduced energy.

B12 is a water-soluble vitamin found naturally in certain foods and added to others, as well as being sold as dietary supplements and prescription medication. Once in your body, B12 converts into biologically active forms called methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin; its proper functioning ensures normal brain and nervous system functionality and production of fatty acids, amino acids and glycogen production.

Vitamin B12 can typically be found in animal-based foods such as meat, fish, dairy products and eggs; those on vegan diets may become deficient. Furthermore, as we get older our bodies become less effective at absorbing this vitamin.

Current commercial B12 production uses fermentation of bacteria, which involves a lengthy and expensive process that must safely handle cobalt and cyanide. Professor Warren’s team has designed a modified E. coli strain that is capable of producing vitamin B12 independently in large quantities while simultaneously improving cobalt incorporation capabilities to reduce costs and create sustainable production methods. They have also devised a metalation calculator which enables producers to determine exactly how much cobalt will be required in producing vitamin B12. Such developments could lead to more sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious processes in manufacturing vitamin B12.

Memory Support

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) plays an essential role in healthy brain functioning and its production by intestinal bacteria is key for DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation and body defense mechanisms. B12 can be found naturally in animal products as well as added to some foods or taken orally through supplements or injections; its Recommended Dietary Allowance per day stands at 2.4 micrograms.

Researchers have long held the belief that low levels of B12 contribute to memory decline; however, more recent research indicates it may actually help protect against memory-related decline.

Methylcobalamin is the ideal form of Vitamin B12 for brain health, being both more easily absorbed than its hydroxocobalamin counterpart and not needing to be converted by genes or enzymes before becoming active in the body. Furthermore, this form is known to act as a neuroprotectant and facilitate several important processes including oxidative metabolism, methylation reactions, homocysteine conversion to methionine production as well as mopping up excess oxidized molecules such as nitrous oxide and peroxynitrites production.

Quadram Institute scientist Martin Warren’s research is dedicated to finding sustainable means of producing B12. Typically, production processes involve harmful materials like cyanide and cobalt; his team has successfully created new proteins that bind and purify B12 more efficiently than before – eliminating cyanide entirely while simultaneously increasing production rates.

Dr Tessa Young from Durham University has created a’metalation calculator’, which can optimise the amount of cobalt needed in B12 biosynthesis while minimising waste. This tool could also be applied to various production processes utilizing metals and may contribute towards creating a more sustainable manufacturing future.

Mood Enhancer

Vitamin B12 (also known as cyanocobalamin) is one of the most essential water-soluble vitamins, essential for cell formation, neurological functioning, DNA synthesis and more. A deficiency has been linked with depression, inability to concentrate and anxiety symptoms; often deficient levels are found among people who do not consume enough animal products or who suffer from chronic medical conditions such as cancer or HIV/AIDS.

Research suggests that higher Vitamin B12 intake may reduce symptoms of depression and risk for depressive episodes, and vice versa. Unfortunately, studies with smaller sample populations have produced inconsistent findings and further study is required on its effects on mood.

One reason B12 can be beneficial to brain and nervous system health is its role in maintaining normal levels of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter which regulates mood, sleep, appetite, digestion and sexual desire. Vitamin B12 also supports healthy levels of tyrosine necessary for producing methionine amino acid methionine which in turn serves as another neurotransmitter.

Vitamin B12 not only aids the production of essential neurotransmitters, but it is also an effective natural mood enhancer and can be helpful for those experiencing irritability or anxiety. Furthermore, maintaining adequate levels of Vitamin B12 ensures regular blood sugar levels as well as supporting a healthy metabolism.

Antioxidant

Researchers are exploring the possible effects of vitamin B12 deficiency on depression and mood. Studies have indicated that people deficient in this nutrient have a greater risk of depression as well as an inability to cope with stress effectively, possibly related to serotonin and dopamine deficiencies in the brain which have an impact on emotional states such as mood and emotions. Vitamin B12 is essential to human nutrition and can be found in foods like meat, fish, milk, eggs and dairy products.

Vitamin B12 is produced naturally in the gut by bacteria and found in fortified food and supplements. Traditional production techniques use toxic cyanide and cobalt, both heavy metals that can harm the environment. At Quadram Institute, Prof Martin Warren and his team have developed an environmentally-friendly biomanufacturing method of vitamin B12 production without these hazardous ingredients – their laboratory scale method now being utilized commercially to make vitamin B12.

Studies on B12’s antioxidant properties indicate its antioxidative activity by directly and indirectly scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glutathione acts to further scavenge ROS by maintaining glutathione levels; thus reducing advanced glycation end products and inflammation signals associated with oxidative damage.

Studies on the effect of B12 on oxidative stress are mostly observational in nature and lack RCTs and prospective cohort designs, making causality impossible to establish. Nonetheless, several studies have demonstrated that decreased B12 status correlates with increased pro-oxidant and decreased antioxidant levels overall and subclinically relative to normal status B12.

Immune System Support

Immunity is key in protecting our bodies against illness or infection, so maintaining adequate levels of Vitamin B12 for immune support is crucial. Red blood cell production plays an integral part in providing oxygen-rich blood to support immunity. A deficiency can result in pernicious anemia if enough red blood cells cannot be produced to provide enough oxygen supply to the immune system.

B12 plays an essential role in many protein reactions and formation of DNA in our bodies, helping them produce sufficient amounts to form DNA or RNA molecules which support healthy cell growth, repair processes, and can prevent mutations from arising. Without enough of it in the diet, issues arise in terms of cell division or repair as well as potential genetic mutations.

Our bodies cannot produce Vitamin B12 naturally; thus we must obtain it through food sources in our diets. Ruminant animals such as cows and sheep provide us with natural sources of B12. Other sources include meat products (particularly liver), fish and eggs. Unfortunately, some individuals cannot consume enough B12-rich foods in their daily diet to meet recommended levels for vitamin intake.

Fermentation is the preferred method for producing nutrients used in supplements and food fortification products, with Pseudomonas denitrificans or Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp shermanii bacteria being employed as hosts. Fermentation usually lasts 10 days before purification must take place by precipitation, affinity chromatography or crystallisation for purification purposes – which typically takes one more week to finish up.

Prof Martin Warren from Durham University and Quadram Institute has developed a breakthrough method of producing vitamin B12 biosynthesis by engineering E. coli strains to more effectively utilize cobalt for its biosynthesis process, creating more efficiently and with greater precision while eliminating hazardous waste/trade effluent and making production cheaper.