Description
An essential water-soluble vitamin required for red blood cell formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis. Available in multiple chemical forms differing in the cobalt-attached ligand: Cyanocobalamin (the most stable and cost-effective form), Methylcobalamin (the active coenzyme form, premium), Hydroxocobalamin, and Adenosylcobalamin.
Dark red to crimson crystalline powder. Used at very low doses (micrograms in human supplements, slightly higher in animal feed). One of the most potent vitamins by mass.
We supply food-grade, feed-grade, and pharmaceutical-grade Vitamin B12 from manufacturers in China holding ISO, Halal, Kosher and other certifications relevant to the product and production.
Common market grades include Cyanocobalamin 1 percent Feed Grade (carrier-diluted for feed addition), Cyanocobalamin 96 to 98 percent Pure Pharmaceutical Grade, Methylcobalamin 98 percent (premium supplement grade), Hydroxocobalamin Injectable Grade, and Pharmaceutical Grades meeting BP/USP/EP/JP specifications.
Bulk and reduced-MOQ shipments. Batch-level COA covering assay, water content, related substances, heavy metals, and microbiology.
Introduction
Vitamin B12 was the last vitamin to be discovered, isolated in 1948 from liver extract and chemically characterized through 1956 in work that earned Dorothy Hodgkin the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The molecule is the largest and most chemically complex of all vitamins, containing a cobalt atom at the center of a corrin ring structure.
Industrial production proceeds by submerged aerobic fermentation using Propionibacterium freudenreichii or Pseudomonas denitrificans, the only commercially viable B12 production method. Chemical synthesis is technically possible but commercially impractical due to the molecule's complexity.
Recognized as a permitted food ingredient by the U.S. FDA, the European Food Safety Authority, and equivalent regulators worldwide. Listed in BP, USP, EP, and JP pharmacopoeias. Recommended Dietary Allowance is 2.4 micrograms per day for adults.
Vitamin B12 is unique among vitamins in being produced exclusively by bacteria in nature. Plants do not produce B12, which means vegan and vegetarian diets without explicit supplementation lead to gradual B12 deficiency. This biological fact underpins the substantial supplement market in plant-based diets and the mandatory B12 fortification of plant-based milk and meat alternatives in regulated markets.
Strategic positioning combines animal feed (the largest volume application by far), pharmaceutical clinical applications including pernicious anemia and post-bariatric-surgery deficiency treatment, dietary supplements (the highest-growth segment driven by vegan-diet expansion), and energy-positioned beverage and supplement applications.
Where it is used
- Animal feed: poultry, swine, aquaculture, and dairy fortification (the largest volume application)
- Dietary supplements: standalone B12, B-complex, and vegan supplement formulations
- Pharmaceutical applications: B12 deficiency anemia treatment (oral and injectable), pernicious anemia therapy
- Infant formula and clinical nutrition fortification
- Vegan and vegetarian fortified foods (plant-based diets are typically B12-deficient without fortification)
- Fortified breakfast cereals, breads, and plant-based milks
- Energy drinks and functional beverages
- Sports nutrition and pre-workout formulations
- Veterinary pharmaceutical applications
Technical data
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Dark red to crimson crystalline powder |
| Assay (dry basis, Cyanocobalamin) | 96.0% to 100.5% |
| Assay (dry basis, Methylcobalamin) | 98.0% to 102.0% |
| Loss on drying | ≤ 12.0% |
| Residue on ignition | ≤ 0.5% |
| Related substances | ≤ 2.0% |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 mg/kg |
| Arsenic | ≤ 3 mg/kg |
| Available forms | Cyanocobalamin, Methylcobalamin, Hydroxocobalamin, Adenosylcobalamin |
Ready to discuss business?
Send us your spec and requirement. We will respond with availability and pricing within 24 hours.