Biological processes rely heavily on inorganic salts to perform many enzymatic and other biochemical functions.
Many enzymes require a cofactor that is metallic in nature.
For instance, the oxygen carrying protein hemoglobin contains the coenzyme heme, which contains an iron ion that forms a coordination complex with elemental oxygen. This allows our blood to carry oxygen to all of the cells in the body. These biological buffers operate naturally to provide a uniform environment in which the body conducts its biochemical housekeeping functions. The name cyanocobalamine derives partly from the cobalt ion that is complexed in the central portion of the vitamin. This ion is important in complexing and stabilizing the methyl group before transfer and assisting with the actual transfer.