A significant portion of Americans have some type of vitamin deficiency, one of which is vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin vital for optimal health. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of deficiency mimic other health conditions and so it’s often considered last in a variety of health issues. There are four known forms of the vitamin including methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin, which are metabolically active. Two other forms, hydroxocobalamin and cyanocobalamin, become biologically active after they are converted. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin, which means your body can’t make it. Instead, you must consume an average of 2.4 micrograms each day from food or supplements. While it’s found in a wide variety of animal foods, the National Institutes of Health warns that vitamin B12 deficiency affects between 3 percent and 43 percent of older adults. Although it affects a significant number of people, particularly the elderly and …