Articles on Medical Diseases and Conditions

Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) is necessary for adequate DNA synthesis through its role in folic acid metabolism. Vitamin B12 transforms metabolically inactive 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate, which can then be converted to an active coenzyme. Vitamin B12 also acts as a single-carbon transfer agent in certain other metabolic pathways, such as metabolism of propionic acid. Most vitamin […]

Several laboratory tests are commonly used to screen for or establish a diagnosis of chronic iron deficiency. The sequence in which abnormal test results appear is given in the box below. In a normal adult on a normal diet made iron deficient by repeated phlebotomy (for experimental reasons), it takes about 3 months before significant […]