-Lipoic acid (lipoamide in proteins)

-Lipoic acid is a coenzyme synthesized in plants and animals as a 6,8-dithiooctanoic acid. The role of -lipoic acid in metabolic reactions is to provide a reactive disulfide that can participate in redox reactions within the enzyme active site. -Lipoic acid is not considered a vitamin because it is synthesized at measurable levels in humans, however, because of its potential to function as an antioxidant in the reduced form, -lipoic acid is promoted as a nutritional supplement.

High levels of -lipoic acid are found in broccoli, spinach, and tomato.

Vitamin B12
Dietary sources and recommended intake:

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) only synthesised by micro-organisms. Animals get it from their natural bacterial flora or eat other animals who have stores of the vitamin. Milk is a good source. Vegans are at risk from deficiency. RNI = 1.5g/day.

Vitamin B12 affects two Major Pathways

Homocysteine Methylmalonyl CoA

Methionine

Succinyl CoA

The effects of Vitamin B12 on the conversion of homocysteine to methionine

Homocysteine
Methionine Synthase
Methylcobalamin

Methionine

5-methyltetrahydrofolate

tetrahydrofolate

Tetrahydrofolate methyltransferase

2) Vitamin B12 is also a coenzyme in a reaction involved in methionine Metabolism.

H4folate is converted to N5-methyl-H4folate in a number of different reactions as it accepts methyl groups. The methyl group can only be removed and the H4folate regenerated by the above reaction. (See folic acid)

The effects of Vitamin B12 on the conversion of Methylmalonyl CoA to Succinyl CoA
Methylmalonyl Co A
Methylmalonyl CoA mutase
Adenosylcobalamin

Succinyl CoA

Function of vitamin B12

1) Vitamin B12 (as deoxyadenosylcobalamin) is a co-enzyme methylmalonyl CoA mutase.

Deficiency of vitamin B12

Dietary deficiency is rare (except for vegans). Deficiency more commonly due to an absorption problem.

Auto immune disease can destroys the parietal cells that secrete the I.F. required for absorption.
Treatment is life long injections of vitamin B12 (oral administration wouldn't be much use!)

Effects of B12 Deficiency

Impaired methylmalonyl CoA mutase causes accumulation of unusual odd number carbon fatty acids. These accumulate in nerve cell membranes causing irreversible neurological disorders. Impaired methionine synthase traps H4folate as N5-methyl-H4folate ("folate trap"). This can lead to a secondary or artificial deficiency of folic acid. One of the main symptoms of folic acid deficiency is anaemia.

Anaemia due to a true folic acid deficiency it is megaloblastic anaemia.

Anaemia due to a true folic secondary folic acid deficiency caused by primary B12 deficiency is pernicious anaemia

Anaemia could be due to folic acid deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency.

In either case folic acid would cure the anaemia but if the true underlying deficiency involved vitamin B12 the patient would still go on to develop the irreversible neurological disorders.

For this reason such patients are always given folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements until the true cause of the anaemia is identified.