Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Clinical Pathology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Pathology
. 1969 Sep;22(5):545–550. doi: 10.1136/jcp.22.5.545

Patterns of plasma cobalamins in control subjects and in cases of vitamin B12 deficiency

J C Linnell 1,2, Heather M Mackenzie 1,2, J Wilson 1,2, D M Matthews 1,2
PMCID: PMC474244  PMID: 5364437

Abstract

A method for thin-layer chromatography and bioautography of plasma cobalamins is described. It requires only 5 ml of blood.

Results are reported in 35 healthy people and hospital controls, and in 14 cases of untreated pernicious anaemia. In the control group there were two major components, methylcobalamin and a component which is probably a mixture of hydroxocobalamin and deoxyadenosyl cobalamin. Many cases of untreated pernicious anaemia showed a characteristic pattern in which methylcobalamin was reduced in relation to hydroxocobalamin. This pattern was also seen in one vegan who was taking a diet without B12 supplement. A minority of subjects showed traces of cyanocobalamin; this compound was not confined to smokers.

The significance of the results and possible diagnostic utility of the technique are discussed.

Full text

PDF
548

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BOXER G. E., RICKARDS J. C. Studies on the metabolism of the carbon of cyanide and thiocyanate. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1952 Jul;39(1):7–26. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(52)90256-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. LINDSTRAND K. ISOLATION OF METHYLCOBALAMIN FROM NATURAL SOURCE MATERIAL. Nature. 1964 Oct 10;204:188–189. doi: 10.1038/204188a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Lindstrand K., Wilson J., Matthews D. M. Chromatography and microbiological assay of vitamin B12 in smokers. Br Med J. 1966 Oct 22;2(5520):988–990. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5520.988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Linnell J. C., Mackenzie H. M., Mattews D. M. Normal values for individual plasma cobalamins. J Clin Pathol. 1969 Jul;22(4):506–506. doi: 10.1136/jcp.22.4.506. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Linnell J. C., Smith A. D., Smith C. L., Wilson J., Matthews D. M. Effects of smoking on metabolism and excretion of vitamin B12. Br Med J. 1968 Apr 27;2(5599):215–216. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5599.215. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Matthews D. M., Gunasegaram R., Linnell J. C. Results with radioisotopic assay of serum B12 using serum binding agent. J Clin Pathol. 1967 Sep;20(5):683–686. doi: 10.1136/jcp.20.5.683. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Reizenstein P. Conversion of cyanocobalamin to a physiologically occurring form. Blood. 1967 Apr;29(4):494–500. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. TOOHEY J. I., BARKER H. A. Isolation of coenzyme B12 from liver. J Biol Chem. 1961 Feb;236:560–563. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. WOKES F., PICARD C. W. The role of vitamin B12 in human nutrition. Am J Clin Nutr. 1955 Sep-Oct;3(5):383–390. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/3.5.383. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Wilson J., Matthews D. M. Metabolic inter-relationships between cyanide, thiocyanate and vitamin B 12 in smokers and non-smokers. Clin Sci. 1966 Aug;31(1):1–7. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Pathology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES