Purification and characterization of a corrinoid compound from a Japanese salted and fermented salmon kidney "Mefun"

Significant amounts of vitamin B-12 (about 116.3 similar to 556.3 mu g/100g) were determined in a Japanese salted and fermented salmon kidney "Mefun." A corrinoid compound was purified to homogeneity from Mefun and partially characterized. TLC and HPLC patterns of the purified corrinoid compound were identical to those of authentic vitamin B-12, but not to inactive corrinoids. The vitamin B-12 found in Mefun was not derived from concomitant vitamin B-12-synthesizing bacteria, but had accumulated in the salmon kidney. Gel filtration experiments demonstrated that most of the vitamin B-12 found in Mefun was recovered in the free vitamin B-12 fractions.