Vitamin B12 and folate bioavailability from two prenatal multivitamin/multimineral supplements.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) in this controlled clinical trial publication.

The maximum postabsorption serum level was multiplied by the total body plasma levels to obtain the total rate of body absorption.

The absorption peak of both vitamins occurred at 3 hours after ingestion of a supplement.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 30 women taking part.

PubMed indexes the participants as adults, women only.

Blood samples were obtained before supplementation and at 1, 3, 6, and 8 hr after supplementation serum levels of the two vitamins were measured by radioimmunoassay.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as single-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover.

Only one side, usually the women, was kept unaware of whether Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) was given.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) could be set against what happens without it.

Each person switched between Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

What Was Measured

The maximum postabsorption serum level was multiplied by the total body plasma levels to obtain the total rate of body absorption.

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Biological Availability, Fasting, Folic Acid, Postprandial Period, Prenatal Care, Radioimmunoassay and Vitamin B 12.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a single-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study of Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) in 30 women.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2000 (American journal of perinatology), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) compound page, all human trials.