Are the concerns about cyanocobalamin exaggerated? | Masterjohn Q&A Files #152

Are the concerns about cyanocobalamin exaggerated? | Masterjohn Q&A Files #152

Author: Chris Masterjohn, PhD December 7, 2020 Duration: 8:08

Question: Are the concerns about cyanocobalamin exaggerated?

I'm not sure what people have said about the dangers. I know that I have been a critic of cyanocobalamin relative to other forms of B12 and then, other people may have used something I said maybe in an exaggerated way. And then there might be just much marketing that I haven't actually been exposed to where people have come up with their own marketing claims around other forms of B12.

So my opinion is basically as follows: number one, the amount of cyanide that would be released from taking even high doses of cyanocobalamin is very small. And so I don't think taking cyanocobalamin is dangerous in any context that I can think of so that's number one. But number two, one of our mechanisms for detoxifying cyanide, and it's not the only mechanism, but it's one of the key mechanisms is to join the cyanide, to cobalamin, to pee it out in the urine.

Reference: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0026049505001897?via%3Dihub

If you would like to be part of the next live Ask Me Anything About Nutrition, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass, which includes access to these live Zoom sessions, a private discussion group, premium features on all my content, and hundreds of dollars of exclusive discounts. You can sign up at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass/ and use the code QANDA to get 10% off the membership for life.

For the remainder of 2020, I will be working full-time on finishing my Vitamins and Minerals 101 book, while reserving a portion of my time for consulting clients. You can pre-order my book at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/book. You can sign up for a consultation at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/consultations

DISCLAIMER: I have a PhD in Nutritional Sciences and my expertise is in performing and evaluating nutritional research. I am not a medical doctor and nothing herein is medical advice.

Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here.

Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.


Chris Masterjohn, PhD hosts Mastering Nutrition, a podcast that digs into the science of how our bodies work at a fundamental level. The focus here is on mitochondrial health-the energy powerhouses within our cells-and how optimizing them forms the cornerstone of lasting vitality. Chris brings his background as a nutrition scientist and his experience founding BioOptHealth to these conversations, which move beyond generic diet advice. Instead, the podcast explores how individual differences, informed by tools like whole genome sequencing and detailed biochemical data, can reveal personalized paths to better metabolic function. Listeners will hear deep dives into cutting-edge research, practical interpretations of complex studies, and discussions on how to apply these insights in a real-world context. This isn't about quick fixes or trending superfoods; it's about building a coherent, scientifically-grounded understanding of nutrition from the cellular level up. Each episode aims to provide the kind of nuanced, evidence-based perspective that can help you make sense of conflicting health information. Whether the topic is a specific nutrient, a metabolic pathway, or a broader principle of wellness, Chris works to translate dense science into actionable knowledge. Tune in for a thoughtful, detailed exploration of what it truly means to master your own nutritional landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 712

Mastering Nutrition
Podcast Episodes
Depression Starts In Your Mitochondria [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:47
You could be one metabolic bottleneck away from feeling amazing. Mitome is the first at-home test that measures your cellular energy directly and gives you a personalized roadmap to optimize energy, slow aging, and prote…
Mitochondria: Why They Control Everything in Human Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:57
Mitochondria govern everything. Watch this with the slides here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mED1_L3wZbc Mitochondria convert your food to usable energy in the form of ATP, which is used to produce, maintain, repair,…
SSRI Withdrawal Is Mitochondrial Dysfunction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:04
Chris Masterjohn, PhD, Founder and Scientific Director of mito.me, explains why SSRI withdrawal is mitochondrial dysfunction and what to do about it. This is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 29 million Americ…
How Lactate Alkalinizes Your Muscles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:50
For a long time, most people believed that when we exercise, our muscles make lactic acid, this acidifies the muscles, and the acidity contributes to contractile failure, fatigue, and delayed-onset muscle soreness. Some…
D-Lactate: Groundbreaking Research No One Is Talking About [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:24
D-lactate is commonly stated to be exclusively a microbial metabolite. This is found in assumptions within the medical literature for decades even when it was long-known to be false. While D-lactate is indeed made by bac…
Handling Creatine Side Effects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:02
In this podcast we cover elevated creatinine, insomnia, cramps constipation, water retention, hair loss, irritation and anger, lightheadedness during lifting, bloating, aggravation of restless leg syndrome, irritation of…