vitamin-b-12 and Diverticulitis

Topics: Aged; Bacterial Infections; Dietary Fats; Diverticulitis; Female; Folic Acid; Humans; Jejunal Diseases; Malabsorption Syndromes; Serum Albumin; Vitamin B 12

We investigated the presence of vitamin B 12 analogues (cobamides) and the bacterial conversion of 57Co-B12 (vitamin B12 cyanocobalamin, [57Co]-CN-Cbl) into cobamides in the intestinal contents of four patients with bacterial overgrowth. The (57Co)-CN-Cbl bound to intrinsic factor was given orally. Jejunal contents were aspirated for 24 h and cultured aerobically and anaerobically. The CN-Cbl and cobamides were separated by electrophoresis and chromatography and identified by bioautography. Radioactivity of cobamide zones from duplicate chromatograms showed bacterial conversion of (57Co)-cn-cbl into cobamides. Cobamides ([Ade]CNCBA, [2-Me Ade] CNCba, [CN]2Cbi and factor E) were found in the intestinal contents in three of the four patients, and in two of three patients cobamides represented more than 25% of the administered CN-Cbl. Thus bacterial production of cobamides, both de novo and from ingested CN-Cbl bound to intrinsic factor, occurs in humans with bacterial overgrowth states and results in a significant loss of vitamin B12 to the host.

Topics: Anemia, Megaloblastic; Bacteria; Cobamides; Diverticulitis; Humans; Intestinal Obstruction; Intestine, Small; Malabsorption Syndromes; Vitamin B 12

Topics: Aged; Diverticulitis; Diverticulum; Escherichia coli; Folic Acid; Humans; Intestines; Jejunum; Male; Neomycin; Neuritis; Radiography; Spinal Cord Diseases; Tetracycline; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency