Vitamin B 12 deficiency in Caenorhabditis elegans results in loss of fertility, extended life cycle, and reduced lifespan

Vitamin B 12 (B 12 ) deficiency has been linked to developmental disorders, metabolic abnormalities, and neuropathy; however, the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Caenorhabditis elegans grown under B 12 ‐deficient conditions for five generations develop severe B 12 deficiency associated with various phenotypes that include decreased egg‐laying capacity (infertility), prolonged life cycle (growth retardation), and reduced lifespan. These phenotypes resemble the consequences of B 12 deficiency in mammals, and can be induced in C. elegans in only 15 days. Thus, C. elegans is a suitable animal model for studying the biological processes induced by vitamin deficiency.