The combination of vitamin B9 (natural folate) and vitamin B12 simultaneously supports key metabolic pathways that are functionally interconnected.

The folate pathway is an essential metabolic process responsible for converting dietary folates into their active form (5-methyltetrahydrofolate), which is required for DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation, and the proper functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Methylation processes require specific cofactors, including vitamins B2, B6, B12, and zinc, and their impairment – often of genetic origin, may lead to developmental abnormalities, such as neural tube defects.

Folates participate in the one-carbon cycle, which is responsible for the transfer of carbon units necessary for the synthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides, and thus for proper DNA and RNA synthesis. Within the same pathway, vitamin B12 acts as an enzymatic cofactor, ensuring the continuity of reactions and preventing the functional inactivation of folates.

The simultaneous supply of vitamins B9 and B12 is essential for proper DNA replication and the regulation of gene expression through methylation mechanisms. A deficiency of either vitamin disrupts the entire metabolic system, even when the intake of the other is adequate, which explains the rationale for their combined, synergistic use in a single formulation.

Hydroxocobalamin is a natural, physiological form of vitamin B12, characterised by high chemical stability and good tolerability. In the body, it serves as a precursor form from which the biologically active coenzymes—methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin—are produced. This allows for a gradual and controlled supply of active B12 forms to cells, without placing excessive strain on metabolic pathways.

Its presence is particularly important in the context of the long-term maintenance of adequate vitamin B12 levels, haematopoietic processes, and the stability of the nervous system. Hydroxocobalamin acts as a metabolic buffer, ensuring the continuity of B12 transformations in accordance with the body’s current physiological needs.

Adenosylcobalamin is an active, coenzymatic form of vitamin B12 that acts primarily within the mitochondria, where it participates in the conversion of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA. This reaction enables the integration of amino acid and fatty acid metabolism products into the cell’s energy cycle, directly influencing the efficiency of ATP production.

Including this form of vitamin B12 allows the formula to support not only regulatory processes related to DNA and methylation, but also the energy-related aspects of cellular function. When combined with hydroxocobalamin, it provides both a metabolic reserve and an immediately active form of vitamin B12, reflecting the complex physiology of B12 utilisation in the body.

Important sources of Vitamin B12 in the diet are animal foods including meat, dairy products, eggs, as well as fish and shellfish. Therefore, it is common for vegans and vegetarians to ensure the intake of Vitamin B12 from alternative sources. For proper absorption of Vitamin B12, the Castle factor working properly plays a crucial role. In healthy subjects, Vitamin B12 bioavailability from fish, sheepmeat and poultry meat was 42%, 56%-89%, and 61%-66%, respectively. Compared to meat, absorption from eggs is estimated to be less than 9%. Similarly, bioavailability from algae is negligible.