Vitamin B12, Information, Benefits & Defeciency Symptoms | Natural Vitamins

Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is a nutrient you need for good health. It’s one of eight B vitamins that help the body convert the food you eat into glucose, which gives you energy. Vitamin B12 has a number of additional functions. It is needed for the following purposes:

It helps in production of elements of DNA
It also helps in production of red blood cells
It aids regeneration of bone marrow and the lining of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts
It helps in maintaining the health of the nervous system and spinal cord
It aids prevention of megaloblastic anemia

How much B12 is required for different age groups?

From birth to 6 months a child needs 0.4 mcg
Infants 7–12 months need approx 0.5 mcg
Children ranging between 1–3 years need about 0.9 mcg
Children aged between 4–8 years need 1.2 mcg
Children in the age group 9–13 years need 1.8 mcg
Teens aged 14–18 years need 2.4 mcg
Adults require 2.4 mcg*
Pregnant women require 2.6 mcg
Women on breastfeeding require 2.8 mcg

*Older adults need more of vitamin B12 because as they age the digestive system doesn’t produce as much acid as it does in the younger years which reduces the overall ability of the body to absorb vitamin B12.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Symptoms of vitamin B12 include: