[Absorption, distribution and excretion of vitamin B12]. 1994

J P Nicolas, and J L Guéant
Unité INSERM 308, Faculté de Médecine, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy.

In our first communication, the complexity of vitamin B12 digestive transport was considered. This second presentation demonstrates the route of the vitamin in the body. As cobalamin or vitamin B12 has existed for Four Billion Years, they figure without any doubt amongst those molecules which have the most complex structure. The rarity of an architecture organised around a cobalt atom confirms their high level of originality. Their exceptional character is reflected in their cycle such as for mammals and for man where the intervention of binders, such as intrinsic factor, transcobalamin and haptocorrin is necessary for transporting them. As far as cellular metabolism is concerned, it is especially loaded sometimes with folates in the transfer of the methyl group. The Molecules are spiked with hydrophobic sites. Their membrane transfer is facilitated by several types of receptors. The intestinal absorption, which appears to require the presence of two receptors and two transporters, remains for the moment a unique assimilation model. The very probable existence of an enterohepatic cycle as well as a renal reabsorption saves this molecule, itself synthesised by microorganisms only.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007408 Intestinal Absorption Uptake of substances through the lining of the INTESTINES. Absorption, Intestinal
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014018 Tissue Distribution Accumulation of a drug or chemical substance in various organs (including those not relevant to its pharmacologic or therapeutic action). This distribution depends on the blood flow or perfusion rate of the organ, the ability of the drug to penetrate organ membranes, tissue specificity, protein binding. The distribution is usually expressed as tissue to plasma ratios. Distribution, Tissue,Distributions, Tissue,Tissue Distributions
D014805 Vitamin B 12 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. Cobalamin,Cyanocobalamin,Cobalamins,Eritron,Vitamin B12,B 12, Vitamin,B12, Vitamin

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