Vitamin B12 for Kids

As adults, we all know how important it is to ensure that the supplements, medication, and food we ingest are healthy and in proper proportions. Being deficient in any vitamin or mineral is far more common than you might expect, and can have a huge impact on a person’s overall health, both physical and emotional. Naturally, monitoring how much of a vitamin or medication a child is taking is even more crucial since their needs are very different from an adult’s. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to ensure that your child’s vitamin levels are well-balanced through monitoring and proper diet and supplements. Keep reading to learn more about vitamin B12 for kids.

Vitamin B12 is important for both children and adults, as low B12 levels have been linked with:

• Low energy
• Weakness
• Noticeable decrease in appetite
• Mood changes/irritability
• Delays in growth and development
• Anemia

It’s entirely possible to absorb B12 through natural food sources, though these sources are limited to animal products. If you are vegetarian, vegan, or have allergies or any other dietary restriction that prevents you from eating animal products, you will undoubtedly need to look into vitamin B12 supplements. Natural sources of vitamin B12 include:

• Eggs
• Most dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.)
• Chicken
• Beef
• Pork
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Lamb

Below, we’ll discuss some of the impacts that B12 (or being deficient in vitamin B12) can have on children, what to look out for, and how to treat any deficiencies.

Can Kids Take B12?

While you would still want to consult with your pediatrician to make sure you know your child’s current B12 levels and what dosage might be best, B12 is generally helpful for children! In fact, checking your child’s vitamin levels regularly is highly recommended, as most children (or people in general, both young and adult) find themselves lacking in one nutrient or another. Even with the most well-rounded diet, it’s possible for a kid to still not receive all of the vitamins and minerals they truly need.

More specifically, B12 is the most complex of the B vitamins and can only be naturally sourced from animal products. If your child is unable to eat meat, fish, or animal byproducts for any reason, or is shown to have a vitamin B12 deficiency for any other reason, start to look into a B12 supplement.

How Much B12 Can a Child Take?

The answer to this question varies as the child ages, so it’s important to pay close attention to how much your child is getting through their supplements (if taking any). Many children’s multivitamins will have B12 in them, so be sure to check the amounts listed on the package and consult with your pediatrician before giving them to your kid. Below is a general guideline to follow as your child gets older, but it’s still best to double-check with your doctor before administering supplements.

* The measurements below are in micrograms (mcg). 1 microgram (mcg) = .001 milligram (mg)

• Babies 0-6 months: 0.4 mcg/day
• Babies 7-12 months: 0.5 mcg/day
• Toddlers 1-3 years: 0.9 mcg/day
• Children 4-8 years: 1.2 mcg/day
• Children 9-13 years: 1.8 mcg/day
• Teens 14-18 years: 2.4 mcg/day

These numbers may not seem like a lot, but B12 is one of those vitamins that gets a lot done on very little. Even in these tiny amounts, B12 can help to:

• Improve bone health and density, reducing the risk of bone disease such as osteoporosis.
• Connect with the nervous system to stimulate memory and neuron function.
• Help prevent brain atrophy.
• Improve eye health.
• Improve skin health and help protect your immune system.
• Improve your mood thanks to its role in creating and metabolizing serotonin, an organic chemical connected with depression (in low levels) or elevated moods (in healthy/higher levels).
• Aid in the production of red blood cells, which help keep your entire body oxygenated. Low red blood cell production can lead to conditions such as anemia.

What Does High B12 Mean in a Child?

Here’s the good news—B12 is water-soluble, which means that your body will naturally get rid of any excess B12 through your urine. Since your body can only absorb the vitamin in certain quantities at a time, there is very little risk of adverse reactions even if a child manages to get into more than their specified daily dose. So, if you wind up accidentally giving them a second dose one day because you forgot you’d already given it to them–breathe easy! It’s still best to stick to the regular dosage so as not to be wasteful or winding up giving them too much over a long period of time.

At What Age Can You Have B12 Deficiency?

A B12 deficiency can become apparent as early as 3 or 4 months old, and present in any of the above-listed symptoms. Thankfully, this can be an easy deficiency to treat quickly and safely. If you start to notice any of the symptoms listed above in your child, it won’t hurt to check in with your pediatrician to make sure that a B12 deficiency is or isn’t the cause.

As always, it’s important to consult with a physician before making any drastic changes to your child’s diet or supplement intake. Naturally, it will be easier to notice certain symptoms as the child gets older, but regular check-ups with your pediatrician will make it easier to spot quickly and without having to rely on the more visible or noticeable signs. This goes for both children and adults, as B12 deficiency can contribute to conditions like depression, hyperpigmentation of the skin, nail discoloration, brittle hair, and many others.

If you or your child have ever exhibited any of the signs and symptoms listed in this article, speak with your physician about them to see if Vitamin B12 for kids might be a potential solution!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.