Final answer:
In B12 deficiency, the levels of MMA and Homocysteine increase due to the disruption of metabolic processes that depend on vitamin B12, such as the methylation of homocysteine to methionine and the interconversion of glutamic acid and ß-methyl aspartic acid. Adequate B12 is found in animal-based foods and is crucial for good health, including the development of red blood cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
In B12 deficiency, the levels of methylmalonic acid (MMA) and Homocysteine typically rise. This increase occurs because vitamin B12 is a co-factor required for important biochemical processes. One of these processes includes the methylation of homocysteine to methionine, an essential amino acid. Without adequate B12, this conversion is impaired, leading to an accumulation of homocysteine. Additionally, vitamin B12 is necessary for the interconversion of glutamic acid and ß-methyl aspartic acid, which also gets disrupted in B12 deficiency, causing an increase in MMA levels.
Food sources of B12 are primarily animal-based, such as liver, egg, meat, and fish, and the daily requirement for an adult is around 5 µg/day. Deficiency can lead to conditions including Megaloblastic anemia, demyelination, neurological lesions, and infertility. Vitamin B12 is also vital for the normal maturation and development of erythrocytes. A marked deficiency could manifest in young children as poor growth and development, among other symptoms.
Rats with B12-restricted diets developed symptoms not seen in those with sufficient B12, further underlining the importance of this vitamin. Vitamin B12's role in the body is extensive and includes maintaining healthy blood and nerve cells and aiding in the production of DNA, among other functions.