Hydroxcobolomin, cyancobolomin, methycobolomin

[CW12]

Can one of you brilliant people explain the difference between these 3 types of b12. What is most effective. What is your experience with one vs another if you have tried more than one. Cyancobolomin is standard in the US I think... wondering why?

[CW12]

Sorry for the spelling I was trying to go from memory and shouldn’t have lol

[clivealive Forum Support]

I have been on cyanocobamalin for over 47 years since being diagnosed wit P.A. in 1972. At that time cyano was the only type in use. When Hydroxobamalin was introduced in the 1980s in the U.K. I had a bad allergic reaction so have continued using the cyano ever since.

The difference between these two is mainly the frequency of injections. Four weeks for cyano and three months for hydroxo

The third type is methylcobamalin which is "supposed to be the best" but is not on prescription in the UK

I am no medic or scientist so do not know "the reasons why" but cyano works for me and I'm still "clivealive" at 78 years of age.

There are others on here who are more "technically minded" who can explain the differences from a chemistry point of view.

P,S. Im due to have my injection this morning.

[CW12 in reply to clivealive]

Thank you! It is comforting to hear from someone with PA for so long .

[fbirder]

Once they get into the cell all four forms of B12, methylcobalamin, cyanocobalamin, adenosylcobalamin and hydroxocobalamin, are converted to cob(II)alamin. They are, from that point onwards, identical. There can be no possible difference in their effects.

Some people will tell you that methylcobalamin is better, that it is more ‘natural’ that it seeks out nerves and is the only type that works on them. They are wrong. b12science.com/B12Science/D... Methylcobalamin also cause unpleasant side effects in some people (mental agitation and irritation).

Before they get into the cells there are some differences in absorption and elimination of the different forms. Absorption differences are minimal, and irrelevant when having injections. Elimination differences mean that cyanocobalamin needs to be administered more frequently than hydroxocobalamin as more of the dose is eliminated in the first few hours.

Cyanocobalamin is the form of choice in the USA for several reasons, mainly that it is cheaper and more stable. Some people say that it is a poor choice because it requires conversion in the liver (wrong) and that it produces cyanide. That is true, but the amount is minute, the same as in seven Apple pips.

Hydroxocobalamin is almost as cheap, almost as stable, and requires less frequent administration which is, I guess, why it is the form of choice in Europe.

[CW12 in reply to fbirder]

Thank you you could not have made it more clear... as usual!!!

[Gambit62 Administrator]

there are actual 4 bio-available forms of cobalamin - cyano, hydroxo, methyl and adenosyl.

they are listed here in terms of stability ,ie cyano is very stable, adenosyl is very unstable and hence more expensive.

cyanocobalamin is contra-indicated in cases of lebers syndrome - a rare genetic condition making people particularly sensitive to the cyanide molecule - for most of us the fact cobalamin is bound to cyanide is completely irrelevant - the levels of cyanide involved aren't sufficient to cause toxicity.

I personally use all four types of cobalamin because I find particular symptoms respond to them, methyl is good for some nerve problems but does nothing for my mood, and adenosyl (high dose tablets) helps me with urge incontinence.

Which you respond to and how is going to depend on you so at the moment you will only know which is best for you if you try and you may find that a combination is best. Really isn't clear why because, as fbirder says, the form should be pretty irrelevant.

Some people don't respond well to methyl and find it makes them very anxious. There is at least one report of a patient who had a rare genetic variant that made them unable to process methyl into adenosyl.

The two forms used in cells are methyl and adenosyl

[CW12 in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you I did not know there is a fourth type!

[Leils]

I'm in the UK

I have hydroxo injections and methyl spray to top up.

I think people will find what is best for them