Tag: B12 production

Viral videos suggesting that commercial vitamin B12 is sourced from human sewage sludge are entirely false, based on misinformation and flawed claims. In reality, the industrial manufacturing process relies on controlled microbial fermentation, a standard biotechnological practice using specific bacteria.

While humans require vitamin B12 for critical functions like nerve health and DNA synthesis, we lack the necessary genetic pathways to produce it ourselves. This makes B12 an 'essential' vitamin that must be obtained from external sources, a biological fact with important health implications for many individuals.

Remarkably, only certain bacteria and archaea possess the complex metabolic machinery to synthesize vitamin B12, or cobalamin, making them the sole natural producers of this essential nutrient for animals and humans. This unique capability relies on intricate biosynthetic pathways that differ significantly from other vitamins.

Unlike almost all other vitamins, Vitamin B12 is not synthesized by plants, animals, or fungi, but exclusively by certain species of bacteria and archaea. This unique biological process means that humans and other animals must obtain this crucial nutrient from external sources, primarily through their diet. This fact forms the basis for understanding all dietary sources of Vitamin B12, from animal products to fortified foods and supplements.

Vitamin B12 is unique among essential nutrients, as it is produced exclusively by certain microorganisms, not by animals or plants. This key biological process forms the basis for answering the question: **what are B12 supplements made from?** The answer lies in large-scale microbial fermentation, a biotechnological process that creates a highly purified and effective supplement for human consumption.