#Industry News
Active vs Total Vitamin B12
A metabolically active marker of B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is a vital water-soluble vitamin that plays an essential role in myelination initiation and development, cellular energy and fatty acid metabolism. It is a cofactor for enzymes methionine synthase and L-methyl-malonyl-coenzyme A mutase and, in addition to folate, is essential for DNA and protein synthesis. In the UK, up to 6% of adults under 60 have been diagnosed with Vitamin B12 deficiency and figures are much higher in elderly populations1. Additionally, these data do not consider the high rates of missed diagnosis associated with B12 deficiency, which some reports claim to be as high as 26%2. New guidance from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advise that Active vitamin B12 testing is recommended for some groups of patients. In this article, we’ll look at this essential vitamin, B12 deficiency and the associated complications, compare the biomarkers used to diagnose B12 deficiency, and finally, present the new Acusera Active B12 Control.
