Can I give my child vitamin B12?

Can Kids Take B12? Yes – kids can take Vitamin B12, and they likely should be taking it! Vitamin B12 is perfectly safe for kids and is vital for their bones, blood, eyes, mood, hair, skin, and nails.


How much B12 can a child take?

Infants 6 - 12 months - 0.5mcg. Children 1 - 3 years - 0.9mcg. Children 4 - 8 years - 1.2mcg. Men 9 - 13 years - 1.8mcg.

Is vitamin B12 good for children?

Vitamin B-12 is essential for brain development, neural myelination, and cognitive function.


Can I give my 5 year old B12?

The Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board recommends that children between 4 and 8 years old should consume 1.2 micrograms of vitamin B-12 each day. Children between 9 and 13 years old require 1.8 micrograms daily.

How do I know if my child has a B12 deficiency?

A vitamin B12 deficiency in children often presents itself with non-specific symptoms such as developmental delays, a diverging growth curve, anorexia, irritability, neurological problems and weakness.


Vitamin B12 in pediatrics - Leila Masson



What should a childs B12 be?

Normal values are 160 to 950 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL), or 118 to 701 picomoles per liter (pmol/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.

What causes B12 deficiency in kids?

Vitamin B12 deficiency can result from decreased dietary intake, impaired absorption (e.g., intrinsic factor deficiency) and malabsorption (e.g., due to chronic gastritis or bacterial overgrowth). Breastfed infants of vegan mothers are also at risk.

How do you increase B12 in kids?

Although the best food sources of vitamin B12 are clams and beef liver, other sources include fish, meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs, milk and dairy.


Who can not take B12?

Who should not take VITAMIN B-12?
  • low amount of potassium in the blood.
  • Leber's hereditary optic atrophy.
  • inflammation of the stomach called atrophic gastritis.
  • past history of complete removal of stomach.


Can you overdose on B12 vitamin B12?

When taken at appropriate doses, vitamin B-12 supplements are generally considered safe. While the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, higher doses have been found to be safe. Your body absorbs only as much as it needs, and any excess passes through your urine.

Is it OK to take 1000 mcg B12 daily?

If you are low in vitamin B12, a common recommended dose for oral supplements is about 1,000 mcg daily. But you should make sure to ask your healthcare provider about how much vitamin B12 you should look for in a supplement.


What does high B12 mean in a child?

High levels of vitamin B12 can occur in liver disease (such as cirrhosis or hepatitis) and some types of leukemia.

What is the best vitamin for kids?

  • The Best Vitamins For Kids.
  • SmartyPants Kids Formula Daily Gummy Multivitamin.
  • Zarbee's Naturals Complete Toddler Multivitamin.
  • Centrum Kids' Organic Multigummies.
  • Renzo's Picky Eaters Multivitamin.
  • Nordic Naturals Nordic Berries.
  • Methodology.
  • Should Your Child Take a Multivitamin?


What food has a lot of B12?

Good sources of vitamin B12
  • meat.
  • fish.
  • milk.
  • cheese.
  • eggs.
  • some fortified breakfast cereals.


What vitamins should kids take daily?

The most important vitamins and minerals that your kids needs are:
  • Calcium. "Calcium is the essential building block of bones and teeth," says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. ...
  • Fiber. ...
  • B12 and Other B Vitamins. ...
  • Vitamin D. ...
  • Vitamin E. ...
  • Iron.


What are the dangers of low B12?

Neurological changes

vision problems. memory loss. pins and needles (paraesthesia) loss of physical co-ordination (ataxia), which can affect your whole body and cause difficulty speaking or walking.

Can slightly low B12 cause symptoms?

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

A mild deficiency may cause no symptoms. But if untreated, it may lead to symptoms such as: Weakness, tiredness, or lightheadedness. Heart palpitations and shortness of breath.


What happens when your vitamin B12 is low?

Key points about vitamin B12 deficiency anemia

Without enough red blood cells, your tissues and organs don't get enough oxygen. Without enough oxygen, your body can't work as well. Symptoms include weak muscles, numbness, trouble walking, nausea, weight loss, irritability, fatigue, and increased heart rate.

How much B12 can a 6 year old take?

After infants are weaned, they can start on 5 micrograms a day; from ages 4 through 10 they can take half the adult dose of 25 a day; and then at age 11, they can take 50 a day or 2,000 a week. You don't have to worry about taking too much.

Can B12 cause hyperactivity?

Vitamin B12 levels correlated negatively with hyperactivity and/orimpulsivity and oppositionality symptoms in children with ADHD.


How do you test for B12 deficiency at home?

How do home B12 blood tests work?
  1. You order a test online or pick up a test kit from a store / clinic.
  2. It will likely contain a finger prick and corresponding vial to collect blood from your finger so that it can be tested for vitamin B12.


How long does it take for B12 to work?

It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.

What is the max B12 you can take a day?

There is no upper limit for vitamin B12, and most supplements provide between 500 mcg to 5,000 mcg of B12 daily to meet various nutritional needs [2].