No abstract

We report a kinetic study of the reaction between superoxide and an important intracellular form of vitamin B12, cob(II)alamin. Superoxide is implicated in the pathophysiology of many inflammatory diseases, whereas vitamin B12 derivatives are often beneficial in their treatment. We found that cob(II)alamin reacts with superoxide at rates approaching those of superoxide dismutase itself, suggesting a probable mechanism by which vitamin B12 protects against chronic inflammation and modulates redox homeostasis.