Absorption of Vitamin B12
The acidic environment of the stomach enables the release
of B12 that is bound to food. The free B12 is then rapidly bound by intrinsic
factor (IF), a muco-polysaccharide secreted by the gastric parietal cells that
line the stomach. The binding of B12 to IF occurs in the duodenum causing the
formation of the IF-B12 complex. This complex is resistant to digestion by
gastric juices. Upon reaching the terminal ileum, it binds to and is absorbed
by the intestinal microvilli.
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