APEEJAY SCHOOL

NERUL
Biology Project
On
Vitamin B12

Utkarsh Thakur
Class: XII-B
Roll No.: 32
Year: 2025-26
 CERTIFICATE
Class: XII B
Year: 2025-26

This is to certify that work done in this project is

the work of Utkarsh Thakur of class XII B; Roll No.
32, has been satisfactorily completed.

Internal Examiner’s Principle’s

Signature
Signature

School Seal School Seal

 CREDIT
I would like to thank CBSE for providing its students the
opportunity to showcase their talents and creativity
through this project.

I am also thankful to the principal of Apeejay School,

Nerul, Mr. P. Subhash for encouraging us in our endeavor.

Moreover, I wish to thank our biology teacher,

Ms. Shakuntala Singh, for guiding us with the project and
imparting valuable knowledge to us throughout the year.

I am also thankful to my family, friends and neighbor,

Dr. Harshad Khairnar for their helpful ideas and support.
 Index

I. Introduction
II. What is Vitamin B12?
III. Structure and Chemistry of Vitamin B12
IV. Sources of Vitamin B12
V. Daily Requirement (RDA)
VI. Functions of Vitamin B12
VII. How the Body Absorbs Vitamin B12
VIII. Symptoms and Signs of Deficiency
IX. Causes of Deficiency
X. Diseases Related to B12 Deficiency
XI. Diagnosis and Tests
XII. Treatment and Supplementation
XIII. Prevention and Dietary Advice
XIV. Importance in India (Vegetarian Diet Focus)
XV. My Personal Learning
XVI. Conclusion
XVII. References
 Introduction
Vitamins are organic compounds required in small
quantities but are vital for proper body functioning.
Vitamin B12, also known as Cobalamin, is one of the
most important water-soluble B-complex vitamins.
It plays a crucial role in the normal functioning of the
nervous system, blood formation, and DNA
synthesis.
What makes Vitamin B12 especially interesting is that it
is not produced by plants or animals, but only by
specific bacteria. This makes it hard to obtain naturally
for people who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet — a
common scenario in India.
This project focuses on understanding the biological
significance of Vitamin B12 and how deficiency affects
millions of people.
 What is Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 (Vit. B12) is a water-soluble vitamin
containing cobalt. It is involved in important cellular
processes like energy metabolism and red blood cell
production. The vitamin is stored mainly in the liver and
can be retained in the body for 3–5 years.

There are four main forms:

 Cyanocobalamin (synthetic, stable form used in

supplements)
 Hydroxocobalamin
 Methyl cobalamin (active form)
 Adenosyl cobalamin (active form)
 Structure and Chemistry of
Vit. B12
Vitamin B12 has a complex chemical structure. It
contains a corrin ring, which holds a cobalt ion at its
center — this is why it's called "cobalamin".
The cobalt ion can form various bonds depending on
the compound. The structure allows Vitamin B12 to take
part in methylation reactions, essential for DNA and
protein synthesis.
Its molecular formula is C₆₃H₈₈CoN₁₄O₁₄P.
 Sources of Vit. B12
Vitamin B12 is found only in animal-based products or
fortified foods.

Natural Sources:

Food Item B12 Content

(µg/100g)

Liver (beef) 83

Sardines 8.9
Milk 0.5
Eggs (whole) 1.1

Paneer 1.5
Chicken 0.3

Fortified Foods:

 Breakfast cereals
 Soy milk
 Almond milk
 Nutritional yeast
 B12-fortified atta or rice (some brands)
 Daily Requirement (RDA)
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR), the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
for Vitamin B12 is:

 Adults: 2.4 µg/day

 Pregnant women: 2.6 µg/day
 Lactating mothers: 2.8 µg/day
 Children: 0.9–1.8 µg/day depending on age

Functions of Vit. B12

Vitamin B12 is essential for many biological processes:

 Red Blood Cell Maturation: Prevents

megaloblastic anaemia.
 DNA Synthesis: Required for cell division.
 Neurological Health: Maintains myelin sheath
around nerves.
 Energy Production: Helps convert carbohydrates
into glucose.
 Homocysteine Regulation: Prevents heart
disease.
 Mental Health: Low B12 is linked to memory loss
and depression

How the Body Absorbs Vit.

 B12
Vitamin B12 absorption is a multi-step process:

1.Stomach: Acid releases B12 from food.

2.Intrinsic Factor (IF): A protein secreted by the
stomach binds to B12.
3.Small Intestine: The B12-IF complex is absorbed in
the ileum.
4.Transport: B12 is carried by transcobalamin II in
the blood.
Disruption in this process can lead to
malabsorption, even if the diet contains enough
B12.

Symptoms of Deficiency
Deficiency can take months or years to show symptoms:

Blood-related Symptoms:
 Fatigue and weakness

 Pale or yellowish skin

 Breathlessness
 Glossitis (swollen tongue)

Nerve-related Symptoms:
 Tingling/numbness in hands and feet

 Difficulty walking
 Memory problems
 Depression or mood swings

Digestive:
 Loss of appetite

 Weight loss
 Constipation

Causes of Deficiency
 Strict Vegetarian/Vegan Diet
 Autoimmune disorders (Pernicious anaemia)
 Long-term use of antacids or metformin
 Bacterial overgrowth in intestines
 Gastric surgeries (bypass, gastrectomy)
 Chronic infections or inflammation of the
intestines
 Diseases Related to B12
Deficiency
1.Megaloblastic Anaemia – Due to failure of RBC
maturation.
2.Pernicious Anaemia– Autoimmune condition
destroying intrinsic factor.
3.Neuropathy – Nerve damage, sometimes
irreversible.
4.Cognitive Disorders – Memory loss, especially in
the elderly.
5.Birth Defects – If pregnant women are deficient,
baby may suffer neural tube defects.
 Diagnosis and Tests
 Complete Blood Count (CBC) – Checks RBC size
(MCV).
 Serum B12 Levels – Normal: 200–900 pg/mL
 Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) – High in B12
deficiency.
 Homocysteine Levels – Elevated in deficiency.
 Intrinsic Factor Antibody Test – For Pernicious
anemia.
 Treatment and
Supplementation
 Oral Supplements – 500–2000 µg/day of
Cyanocobalamin or Methyl cobalamin
 Injections – Intramuscular B12 (Hydroxocobalamin)
weekly or monthly
 Dietary Adjustment – Include dairy, eggs, and
fortified foods
 Lifelong Therapy – In cases of severe absorption
issues


B12 supplements are safe, inexpensive, and available

over-the-counter.
 Prevention and Dietary
Advice
 Include milk, paneer, curd, and eggs in your diet.
 Use fortified soy/almond milk if you are vegan.
 Take supplements if blood levels are low.
 Check labels for “fortified with Vitamin B12”.
 Elderly people should get regular health checkups.
 Importance in Indian
Context
India has one of the highest rates of B12 deficiency due
to:

 Predominantly vegetarian diets

 Lack of awareness
 Misbelief that dal and spinach contain B12 (they
don’t)

70–80% of Indian vegetarians may have low B12

levels.
B12 deficiency in pregnant women can affect brain
development of babies and increase the risk of low birth
weight.
Government should promote fortification programs
(like iodized salt) for Vitamin B12.
Blood Report Samples of Vit.
B12 Levels
As per the teacher's guidance, I have tried to collect real-
life blood test reports for Vitamin B12 levels from people
in my circle to understand the actual scenario of
deficiency or sufficiency.

Sample 1
Name: [Redacted for privacy]
Age: 45 years
Gender: Male
Vitamin B12 Level: 132 pg/mL
Status: Deficient (Normal range: 200–900 pg/mL)
Comments: Patient complains of fatigue and numbness
in hands. B12 supplements prescribed.
Sample 2
Name: [Redacted for privacy]
Age: 20 years
Gender: Female
Vitamin B12 Level: 292 pg/mL
Status: Borderline low
Comments: No visible symptoms but advised to
increase intake through diet and supplements.
Sample 3
Name: [Redacted for privacy]
Age: 34 years
Gender: Female
Vitamin B12 Level: 610 pg/mL
Status: Normal
Comments: Non-vegetarian diet, no complaints or
symptoms.
Sample 4
Name: [Redacted for privacy]
Age: 58 years
Gender: Male
Vitamin B12 Level: 98 pg/mL
Status: Severe Deficiency
Comments: Complained of memory issues, fatigue, and
tingling in feet. Diagnosed with megaloblastic anaemia.
Started on intramuscular B12 injections.

Conclusion of Reports:
From these samples, I observed that people following
strict vegetarian diets are more likely to show lower
levels of Vitamin B12. Some have symptoms even before
getting tested. This highlights the importance of regular
screening and awareness, especially among vegetarian
families in India.
My Personal Learning
Through this project, I learned that:
 A small vitamin like B12 has a huge impact on our

health.
 Even a healthy-looking person can be B12 deficient.
 Prevention is easier and cheaper than treatment.
 Everyone, especially vegetarians, should get tested
once a year.
This project also helped me understand a key NEET-
relevant topic in depth.
 Conclusion
Vitamin B12 is a powerful but often ignored vitamin. It
plays a crucial role in blood formation, nerve function,
and brain health. Deficiency can be dangerous but is
completely preventable.
In a country like India, where vegetarianism is
common, public awareness about B12 is necessary. This
project helped me realize how important it is to include
B12-rich or fortified foods in our daily diet.
 References
 NCERT Class 12 Biology – Human Health and Disease
 National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad
 Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
 Harvard Health Publishing – Vitamin B12 Fact Sheet
 MedlinePlus: Vitamin B12
 WHO Guidelines on Micronutrients
 Wikipedia: Vitamin B12
 Blood sample details by Dr. Harshad Khairnar [MBBS,
MD (Int Med), DM (Gastroenterology)]