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vitamin B12

vitamin B12

3 3.4
A vitamin that helps make red blood cells and keeps the nervous system healthy
  • noun
  • /ˈvaɪtəmɪn biː ˈtwɛlv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : vitamina B12
  • Vegetarians often need to ensure they get enough vitamin B12 from fortified foods or supplements.
  • vitamin B12 deficiency
  • pernicious vitamin B12

Examples

  • As a result, vitamin B12 deficiency is common, affecting between 1.5% and 15% of the general population.

    Blog text (20)
  • A lack of vitamin B12 can lead to various health issues, including fatigue and weakness.

  • Make vitamin B12 a bigger part of your diet.

    Blog text (27)
  • Get your vitamin B12 levels checked by your doctor before increasing your intake.

    Blog text (27)
  • In many of these cases, the cause of the vitamin B12 deficiency is unknown.

    Blog text (20)
  • Lack of vitamin B12 in people between the ages of fifty and sixty is linked to pernicious anemia.

    Blog text (28)
  • Vitamin B12 injections are used to treat both pernicious anaemia and vitamin B12 deficiency.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The issue of vegans requiring vitamin B12 supplementation is therefore not an indicator of a plant-based diet being inferior or unhealthy.

    Blog text (20)
  • Many people take vitamin B12 supplements to improve their energy levels.

Synonyms

cobalamin
vsvitamin B12
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A B vitamin needed to make red blood cells and keep the nervous system healthy

is the common name used in general contexts
cyanocobalamin
vsvitamin B12
  • Specialized
1 7.6

A man-made form of vitamin B12 used to treat B12 deficiency by injection or tablet

is the general form of the nutrient rather than one synthetic type
antipernicious anemia factor
vsvitamin B12
  • Archaic
7.4

A vitamin called B12 that treats a serious type of anemia

is the modern name now used in medical contexts

Surface Forms

vitamin B12 singular
vitamin B12s plural

Morphology

vitamin + B12

This is a composition of the noun 'vitamin' with a specific label 'B12', so a learner who knows 'vitamin' and understands alphanumeric labeling will recognize it as a particular kind of vitamin. While they might not infer the detailed medical uses, the basic referential meaning (a specific vitamin) is directly derivable and this naming pattern is common across many languages.

Etymology

Vitamin B12 came when scientists put it in the 'B' group of vitamins and found it contained a metal called cobalt that can make it look reddish. That's why vitamin B12 is the name for the nutrient known for helping make red blood cells and keeping the nervous system healthy.