Sorbitol enhances the physicochemical stability of B₁₂ vitamers

Abstract

Abstract. The stability of B12 vitamers is affected by interaction with other water-soluble vitamins, UV light, heat, and pH. This study compared the degradation losses in cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin and methylcobalamin due to the physicochemical exposure before and after the addition of sorbitol. The degradation losses of cyanocobalamin in the presence of increasing concentrations of thiamin and niacin ranged between 6%-13% and added sorbitol significantly prevented the loss of cyanocobalamin (p<0.05). Hydroxocobalamin and methylcobalamin exhibited degradation losses ranging from 24%–26% and 48%–76%, respectively; added sorbitol significantly minimised the loss to 10% and 20%, respectively (p < 0.05). Methylcobalamin was the most susceptible to degradation when co-existing with ascorbic acid, followed by hydroxocobalamin and cyanocobalamin. The presence of ascorbic acid caused the greatest degradation loss in methylcobalamin (70%-76%), which was minimised to 16% with added sorbitol (p < 0.05). Heat exposure (100 °C, 60 minutes) caused a greater loss of cyanocobalamin (38%) than UV exposure (4%). However, degradation losses in hydroxocobalamin and methylcobalamin due to UV and heat exposures were comparable (>30%). At pH 3, methylcobalamin was the most unstable showing 79% degradation loss, which was down to 12% after sorbitol was added (p < 0.05). The losses of cyanocobalamin at pH 3 and pH 9 (~15%) were prevented by adding sorbitol. Addition of sorbitol to hydroxocobalamin at pH 3 and pH 9 reduced the loss by only 6%. The results showed that cyanocobalamin was the most stable, followed by hydroxocobalamin and methylcobalamin. Added sorbitol was sufficient to significantly enhance the stability of cobalamins against degradative agents and conditions.

Ornipural® Mitigates Malathion-Induced Hepato-Renal Damage in Rats via Amelioration of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers, Restoration of Antioxidant Activity, and Attenuation of Inflammatory Response

“…Sorbitol, for a long time, was used as a diuretic substance. It has recently shown many other beneficial properties, such as decreasing the degradation losses of B12 vitamers (cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, and methylcobalamin) after exposure to many degradative agents [50].…”

Vitamin B12 in Foods, Food Supplements, and Medicines—A Review of Its Role and Properties with a Focus on Its Stability

“…However, the literature data regarding the comparative thermal stability of OHCbl are not fully consistent. Thus, Mander et al report that the effect of temperature on the stability of OHCbl is comparable to that on CNCbl and MeCbl, leading to a similar extent of degradation under the same conditions [144], whereas Hadinata Lie et al found that CNCbl is more heat stable than OHCbl and MeCbl [145]. Nonetheless, it can be concluded that the stability of CNCbl, MeCbl, and OHCbl in aqueous solutions is significantly affected by the temperature.…”

Revisiting food-sourced vitamins for consumer diet and health needs: a perspective review, from vitamin classification, metabolic functions, absorption, utilization, to balancing nutritional requirements

“…The instability is owed to the degradation losses of these vitamers in the presence of ascorbic acid which appears to be pH-dependent, as higher losses are recorded at low acid to neutral pH while lower losses are obtained in a very low acid range (Ottaway, 1993). According to Lie, Chandra-Hioe & Arcot (2020), methylcobalamin exhibited the greatest degradation losses (70-76%) in the presence of ascorbic acid, followed by hydroxocobalamin and cyanocobalamin. However, the degradation of vitamin B12 is maximum at pH 5.0 which is an indication of peak interaction between vitamin B12 and ascorbic acid.…”

“…Studies have shown that the interaction between vitamin B12 and thiamine are mutually dependent. Vitamin B12 vitamers have been demonstrated to be unstable in the presence of thiamine by exhibiting degradation losses of about 48% for methylcobalamin, 24% for hydroxocobalamin, and 6% for cyanocobalamin (Lie, Chandra-Hioe & Arcot, 2020). The degradation of vitamin B12 is attributed to the formation of 4-methyl-5-(β-hydroxyethyl) thiazole during thiamine decomposition.…”