Abstract

It is possible to estimate the vitamin B12 content of liver specimens obtained by needle biopsy. The liver B12 content is not related to the serum levels of vitamin B12, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, or albumin. It is reduced in a number of pathological conditions of the liver and the reasons for this are discussed, as also are the factors determining the content of B12 in the normal liver.