What is Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is also known as cobalamin and it is a water-soluble nutrient that the human body requires for distinct processes such as red blood cell formation, cell metabolism, nerve function, and DNA and RNA synthesis, which are essential for transmitting genetic information. In addition to that, Vitamin B12 plays an important role in transforming food (mainly carbohydrates) into energy (glucose). Its Current Procedural Technology (CPT) code is 82607.
Cobalamin’s chemical formula is C63H88CoN14O14P and it is one of eight B vitamins (B complex), among B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, B7 (biotin), and folic acid. All B vitamins are necessary for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver, as well as a well-functioning central nervous system.