What is Methylcobalamin?
What is Methylcobalamin?
If you read our article on What is Cyanocobalamin you may be thinking methylcobalamin sounds similar–and it is! So what is methylcobalamin? In short, it is another form of the vitamin B12. Methylcobalamin exists in nature, so it is not synthetic and it is actually identical to one of the forms actively used in the body.
Methylcobalamin is considered a natural form of B12, and while cyanocobalamin is still effective and safe, some research such as this 2017 Integrated Medicine study suggests methylcobalamin has a higher bioavailability. This means the body may have an easier time absorbing and utilizing the methylcobalamin form of B12.
Check out the molecular structure of methylcobalamin from The National Library of Medicine.
What is Methylcobalamin in?
Like cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin can come as an individual vitamin supplement but it is also added to food products.* The main difference between the two forms is where the B12 is derived from. Methylcobalamin is found primarily in animal food products such as meat, dairy, eggs, but it is also found in some plant-based sources such as nori, though it is much rarer. Check out this study for a deeper look at plant-based sources of B12.
Another awesome source of methylcobalamin? BUGS! Edible insects are rich in naturally occurring B12. {this could be a blown up quote featured on the side like other of your articles} This is an especially great option if you don’t eat meat or have an allergy to eggs or dairy products. While people often use edible insects for a sustainable protein alternative, one serving of cricket powder (17g) also has 270% of B12 per serving–that’s pretty amazing! Check out product nutrition here: https://www.cricketflours.com/product/cricket-flour-cricket-powder.
Whatever way you take it, B12 is important and we love that our products are naturally high in this necessary vitamin! Try swapping regular flour for cricket flour, adding cricket protein to your shakes and baked goods, or any of these awesome recipes to get a natural boost of B12.
*While supplements are mentioned in this article, always make sure to check with your health care provider before trying or experimenting with adding new supplements to your diet.
References & Additional Articles on Methylcobalamin
This Nutrients study details vitamin B12 food sources and how they are rare to come by for vegetarians:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4042564/
This Integrative Medicine study looks at the differences in bioavailability between different forms of B12, including methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5312744/