Translations:Vitamin B12/51/en

Pseudovitamin-B₁₂

Pseudovitamin-B₁₂ refers to B₁₂-like analogues that are biologically inactive in humans. Most cyanobacteria, including Spirulina, and some algae, such as Porphyra tenera (used to make a dried seaweed food called nori in Japan), have been found to contain mostly pseudovitamin-B₁₂ instead of biologically active B₁₂. These pseudo-vitamin compounds can be found in some types of shellfish, in edible insects, and at times as metabolic breakdown products of cyanocobalamin added to dietary supplements and fortified foods.