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A Relationship Between Vitamin B12, Folate, Ascorbic Acid, And Mercury Metabolism, Nancy Elizabeth Zorn

Masters Theses

The effect of megadoses of vitamin B₁₂, folate, and vitamin C on the in vivo methylation of mercuric chloride was studied in guinea pigs. The incorporation of high levels of vitamin B₁₂, folate, and vitamin C resulted in a decrease in both inorganic mercury and methylmercury concentrations in all tissues except the lung and heart compared to controls. However, percent methylmercury levels tended to increase with vitamin treatments.

The addition of megadoses of vitamin B₁₂ fed either singularly or in combination with the other vitamins resulted in increased methylmercury concentrations in the liver, spleen, and …