Vitamin B12 is key in reprogramming cells and regenerating tissues: study
Vitamin B12 is not only essential for maintaining vital body functions but also plays a crucial role in the body’s ability to reprogram cells and regenerate tissues.
A new scientific study led by the Institute for Biomedical Research (IRB Barcelona), located in northeastern Spain, revealed the fundamental role of vitamin B12 in cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration.
Published in the prestigious journal Nature Metabolism, the study focused on exploring how B12 influences cellular reprogramming, a process that mimics the initial phases of tissue repair.
The research team, led by renowned Dr. Manuel Serrano, discovered that cellular reprogramming in mice requires large amounts of vitamin B12. Surprisingly, the decrease in this nutrient becomes a limiting factor that slows down and impairs key aspects of the reprogramming process.
Vitamin B12, a micronutrient known for its essential role in nerve function, red blood cell production and DNA synthesis, is found in foods such as fish, red meat, white meat, eggs, milk, and other dairy products.
The abundance of B12 in the mice’s normal diet led the researchers to be surprised to discover that a supplement of this vitamin significantly improved the efficiency of cellular reprogramming.
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Furthermore, the study revealed that intestinal cells, upon initiating the repair process, undergo similar cellular reprogramming and also benefit from vitamin B12 supplementation. Dr. Manuel Serrano expressed his enthusiasm about these results, noting that they are “promising for regenerative medicine, with the potential to benefit patients through better nutrition.”
Metabolism and vitamin B12
The research not only shed light on the impact of vitamin B12 on cellular reprogramming but also delved into the metabolic requirements of this process. Scientists discovered that B12 is a limiting factor in a branch of metabolism related to a crucial reaction known as “methylation.”
In the context of cellular reprogramming or tissue regeneration, high levels of the methylation reaction are essential for cellular DNA to initiate these processes. Vitamin B12 was revealed as a crucial component in maintaining these levels. The lack of B12 in these processes leads to multiple errors in gene function, compromising the effectiveness of cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration.
This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of regenerative medicine. The possibility of improving the efficiency of cellular reprogramming through vitamin B12 supplementation offers a promising approach to accelerate healing and tissue regeneration in patients. IRB Barcelona researchers plan to conduct clinical trials to validate these results and explore their practical application in healthcare.
News of this scientific breakthrough is already generating interest in the medical and nutritional community. Vitamin B12, traditionally recognized for its benefits for nerve and blood health, is now positioned as a crucial tool in cell regeneration.
This finding not only highlights the importance of a balanced diet, rich in B12 but also highlights the possibility of specific nutritional interventions to improve the body’s ability to repair itself.
