How much B12 should seniors take?

Recommended Vitamin B12 Dosage for Seniors
A recent study found that for seniors, a daily dose of 500 micrograms was efficient in reversing the signs of B12 deficiency. In general, experts recommend 2.5 micrograms of vitamin B12 per day for people over the age of 14.


How much B12 should a 70 year old take daily?

Dosages for Older People

When you're in your 60s you should officially start getting blood tests to test for vitamin B12 deficiency. Around this age, you should be getting around 2.4 micrograms of B12 a day.

Which vitamin B12 is best for seniors?

B-Methylated-II is an excellent option for seniors who may have difficulty swallowing pills, and also have greater needs for folate and B12. Methylfolate and B12 are crucial cofactors in one-carbon metabolism and are both required for the breakdown of homocysteine and in neurological health.


How much B12 should a 74 year old woman take?

With that in mind, let's go back to our initial question: how much vitamin B12 should a person over 65 take? Recent reports suggest that, along with a B12-rich diet, consuming 500 micrograms of B12 in the form of a supplement may help individuals over 65 maintain healthy vitamin B12 levels [2].

Can you take too much B12?

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. High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause: Headache.


Study: Vitamin B12 Deficits in Older Adults Linked to Brain Decline



Is vitamin B12 important for seniors?

Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in the health of older adults. Vitamin B-12 is involved in making DNA, red blood cell formation, and proper nerve function1. While more research is needed, low vitamin B-12 levels have also been linked to increased bone fracture risk2.

Is it OK to take 1000 mcg of B12 a day for seniors?

Recommended Vitamin B12 Dosage for Seniors

The proper vitamin B12 dosage for seniors depends on if they have underlying health conditions and how severe their deficiency is. In some cases, doctors may recommend high doses — more than 1,000 micrograms (mcg) per day.

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 medications should not be taken with B12?

As summarized in the table provided, vitamin B12 (cobalamin) absorption and utilization by the body can be compromised with the chronic use of certain medications which include: colchicine, chloramphenicol, ethanol, histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RA), metformin, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI).

What are the symptoms of low B12?

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
  • a pale yellow tinge to your skin.
  • a sore and red tongue (glossitis)
  • mouth ulcers.
  • pins and needles (paraesthesia)
  • changes in the way that you walk and move around.
  • disturbed vision.
  • irritability.
  • depression.


What does low B12 feel like?

Constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or gas. Nerve problems like numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, and problems walking. Vision loss. Mental problems like depression, memory loss, or behavioral changes.


Is 1200 mcg B12 too high?

While megadoses of up to 2,000 mcg are considered safe in treating B12 deficiency, it's always best to avoid excessive amounts of any vitamin, especially when it's not needed.

Is 800 mcg B12 too much?

Don't worry about overdoing it -- there's no upper limit on B12, which means there's no evidence that high levels (up to 1,000 mcg) are harmful.

How much B12 MCG is too much?

Though doses of up to 2,000 mcg of vitamin B12 are considered safe, it's best to speak with a doctor to find out whether taking a supplement is necessary. Most people can fulfill their B12 needs through a nutrient-rich diet.


What are the symptoms of high B12 levels?

In some people, high levels of B12 may cause gastrointestinal problems such as bloating and diarrhea. And if you have high blood pressure or poor cardiovascular health, having too much B12 may further complicate these issues. Pregnant and breastfeeding women may also need to be especially mindful of B12 levels.

Is 2.4 mcg the same as 1000 mcg?

A: 2.4mcg is only approximately 1/250th of 1000mcg.

Is 500 mg of B12 a day too much?

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].


How many B12 1000 mcg should I take a day?

Vitamin B12 dosage and frequency

But dosages can vary depending on if you're treating severe, mild, or asymptomatic B12 deficiency. For vitamin B12 pills, most people take these daily in doses recommended by their doc but taking 1,000 mcg daily is pretty standard.

Can B12 cause neuropathy?

B12 deficiency may cause demyelination of nerves in the peripheral and central nervous system13 and has been associated with peripheral neuropathy, loss of sensation in peripheral nerves, and weakness in lower extremities in older adults1, 14–16.

Does B12 supplement raise blood pressure?

The lowering effects of vitamin B12 together with folic acid on blood pressure have been reported in intervention study in adults. However, no study has reported the association of vitamin B12 by itself with systolic or diastolic blood pressure in children or in adults.


What blocks B12 absorption?

[1] People who regularly take medications that suppress stomach acid for conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcer disease—such as proton-pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, or other antacids—may have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from food.

Can I take B12 with blood pressure medication?

No interactions were found between lisinopril and Vitamin B12.

What happens if you take 1000 mcg of B12?

A high-dose B complex supplement (with 1,000 mcg of B-12) hurt, rather than helped, people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and advanced kidney disease, resulting in a worsening of kidney function and an increase in the risk of heart attack, stroke and death.


When is the best time to take vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12

As a general rule of thumb, take your B vitamins in the morning or with a meal. Vitamin B12, for example, should definitely be taken in the morning. This is because it is important for energy metabolism, which may interrupt your sleep if taken at night.

How much B12 should a woman take daily?

Young adults (19+) – For adult bodies of all genders, 2.4 mcg a day is the recommended dosage. However, your body doesn't necessarily absorb all the B12 you consume.