India, April 29 -- A rich source of vitamin B12 is mainly animal products because it is produced exclusively by specific bacteria and archaea, not by plants or animals. Vitamin B12 is found in animal products because herbivores ingest these bacteria from soil or water, which then synthesize B12 in their guts and accumulate it in their tissues, such as meat, liver, or milk. However, Plants do not require B12 and thus do not produce or store it.

Why Vitamin B12 Exists in Animal Products?

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is synthesized solely by bacteria. It is only found in animal products due to the following reasons:

Herbivorous animals like cows and sheep consume bacteria while grazing, which then synthesizes the vitamin within t...