Significance of isomerization in hydroxocobalamin

Abstract

Hydroxocobalamin is present in fairly large proportions both in foods and in the human body and apparently plays an important biological role. Since cyanocobalamin seems to play hardly any significant biochemical role in healthy humans, several physicians prefer to administer hydroxocobalamin to vitamin B12 deficient patients. We find that hydroxocobalamin in solution isomerizes very readily at room and lower temperatures. Our observations raise the question whether "Mother Nature" has gone awry in using an easily convertible substance like hydroxocobalamin or that the new isomeric forms play some significant role. These observations may also have a bearing on the reported occurrence of unidentified corrinoids in animal tissues, human red cells, liver and brain. © 1984.