What is Cyanocobalamin?
Glad you asked! In short, cyanocobalamin is the human-made form of vitamin B12, a critical vitamin for growth, brain health, red blood cell formation, and more. Many people can’t get enough B12 from food sources alone, so that’s why supplemental sources exist like cyanocobalamin and also methylcobalamin, which you can read more about here. These alternative forms are taken in by the body and then converted into the active form for human metabolism.
Recommended DV # of Micrograms by the US FDA
So now that you know What is Cyanocobalamin, where is it found?
Cyanocobalamin can be an injectable supplement, but that is usually used to treat more severe conditions such as certain types of anemia. It is frequently an oral supplement, which can take the shape of a pill, sublingual lozenge, or even as a flavored spray, but it also can be added directly to food.* Many cereals, breads, fortified drinks like non-dairy milk, protein bars, and more have cyanocobalamin added.
If you look at a multivitamin bottle or another label that shows it contains “vitamin B-12 in the form of cyanocobalamin,” you may have wondered why it is usually an incredibly high amount–sometimes up to 500-1000% the normal daily value! This is because actually only a small fraction of the cyanocobalamin you consume gets converted into what your body can use.
So now when your friends ask “What is cyanocobalamin?” you can tell them! It’s the human-made form of B12, it’s in supplements or added to food, and it has many health benefits! And if they ask, “What is Methylcobalamin?” you can let them know too.
Edible Insects are rich in B-12
Want to make sure you get enough B12 in your diet, but not interested in taking extra pills? Edible insects are rich in the vitamin and just a small amount packs a punch. For example, one serving (2 Tbsp) of cricket powder delivers 270% of your daily value! Try our cricket flours, powders, and other edible insect snacks as a tasty way to boost your B12 intake and you can check out the nutritional labels for our 100% Pure Cricket Powder here.
*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 & Related Links for More Information About Cyanocobalamin
Here’s an in-depth article on B12 and it’s alternative forms from the National Institute of Health: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/
This WebMD article details the food supplement cyanocobalamin: https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-1010/cyanocobalamin-vitamin-b-12-oral/details
This is another article on the University of Michigan Health page describing oral cyanocobalamin and its uses: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/d00413a1