Use of viscosigens to stabilize vitamin B12 solutions against photolysis.

ABSTRACT

Glycerol stabilizes cyanocob(III)alamin (vitamin B12) against anaerobic photolysis by a high-intensity UV light source or a low-intensity fluorescent light source. The likely mechanism for stabilization by viscosigens is a decrease in diffusion and an enhancement of radical-pair recombination. Glycerol (25% or greater) stabilizes therapeutic doses of vitamin B12 in single-dose Tubex injection vials against adventitious photolysis by fluorescent light.