Vitamin B12: The Essential Nutrient Your Child Might Be Missing

Vitamin B12: The Essential Nutrient Your Child Might Be Missing

Micronutrient deficiencies in children can have severe consequences for health. In particular, low levels of vitamin B12 can compromise the immune system and impact a child’s growth and development. 

Large clinical surveys in the US and UK suggest that around 6% of those aged 60 years and under are deficient in B12. [1]

This article will explain why B12 is so important for babies and children, and how a deficiency can have serious health consequences. We’ll also explain why supplementing with vitamin B12 benefits children who cannot obtain this vital nutrient from their diet. 

Why vitamin B12 is essential for children 

B12 vitamin benefits go well beyond many other nutrients. This powerful vitamin plays an integral role in DNA synthesis, methylation reactions, and maintenance of genomic stability. In children, Vitamin B12 is essential for brain development, neural myelination, and cognitive function. 

Folate, vitamin B12, and iron play crucial roles in erythropoiesis (formation of new blood cells).  [2] Erythroblasts are made in the bone marrow and are an intermediate in the initial stage of red blood cell formation. They require folate and vitamin B12 for proliferation during their differentiation.

B12 is also key to the methylation process that converts folic acid to active folate. It is also required for producing methionine synthase, which in turn is required for the production of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe). SAMe is a vital methyl donor for neurotransmitter synthesis and cellular maintenance. [3]

A child’s B12 status during their first year of life is largely dependent on how much B12 they received while in the womb. In fact, one of the main causes of vitamin b12 deficiency in children is being breastfed by mothers who are also B12 deficient. [4]

Babies and children who don’t receive enough B12 during their early years are at higher risk of poor cognitive development due to reduced function of the central nervous system. Deficiency in early childhood is a major cause of neurodevelopmental delay and regression. [5]

It should also be noted that children can be low in B12 and still have normal vitamin B12 levels without showing the typical symptoms of megaloblastic anemia or neuropathy. 

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency

A vitamin B deficiency in children (under 19 years) is defined as a serum B12 value of < 229 pmol/L or a MMA value > 0.26 to 0.29 ųmol/L. [6]

However, only around 1–2% of an oral dose of B12 is absorbed through the gut, which means supplements containing the ‘recommended dosage’ will not provide anywhere near the desired amount. A higher dose is therefore essential. Studies show that high oral doses of vitamin B12 supplements are as effective as B12 injections when it comes to restoring low levels. [7]

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency in children will usually appear between the ages of two months to 12 months. [8]

Severe B12 deficiency can lead to megaloblastic anemia, in which red blood cells are too large, abnormally shaped, and low in number. This can be life-threatening in children. 

Neurological abnormalities (including regression and/or seizures) can also result from prolonged B12 deficiency. 

Severe symptoms may include:

• Delay or regression of developmental milestones

• Loss of appetite or difficulties with feeding

• Hyperirritability

• Failure to thrive

• Hypotonia (decreased muscle tone)

• Lethargy

Early signs may include:

• Pallor (pale skin)

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)

• Bruising

(Note: If your Google searches have left you wondering, “Can vitamin b12 deficiency be a sign of cancer?”, you’ll be relieved to know that no, it is not. However, B12 deficiency can develop during cancer treatment, and may increase the risk of gastric cancer in adults.)

Food sources of vitamin B12

Humans cannot make vitamin B12 in the body - we need to source it from food or supplements. 

Because Vitamin B12 is made by bacteria that live in the soil, the only dietary source of B12 for humans is from animal products. Animals acquire their B12 by eating plants that grow in this soil, or (in the case of fish) from phytoplankton that have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria.

It’s vital to include plenty of vitamin B12 foods in your child's diet. Red meat, fish, shellfish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products are the richest sources. 

(Note: If your Google searches have left you wondering, “Can vitamin b12 deficiency be a sign of cancer?”, you’ll be relieved to know that no, it is not. However, B12 deficiency can develop during cancer treatment, and may increase the risk of gastric cancer in adults.9)

Food sources of vitamin B12

Humans cannot make vitamin B12 in the body - we need to source it from food or supplements. 

Because Vitamin B12 is made by bacteria that live in the soil, the only dietary source of B12 for humans is from animal products. Animals acquire their B12 by eating plants that grow in this soil, or (in the case of fish) from phytoplankton that have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria.

It’s vital to include plenty of vitamin B12 foods in your child's diet. Red meat, fish, shellfish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products are the richest sources. 

The best food sources of B12 include:

Liver

Clams

Fish: salmon, trout, tuna 

Lean beef

Dairy: Greek yogurt, milk

Eggs

Chicken breast

Vegan and vegetarian families are at higher risk of B12 deficiency due to a lack of B12 in the diet. A systematic review of 40 research studies found that the prevalence of deficiency among infants in vegetarian families is around 45%, and up to 33% in children and adolescents. Deficiency among pregnant women ranged from 17-39%, depending on the trimester. [10]

Vitamin b12 foods for vegetarians may include fortified cereals, nutritional yeasts, and non-dairy milks. However, fortified foods typically provide only small amounts of dietary B12, and usually in the cyanocobalamin form (which is synthetically made and not the ‘active’ form). In addition, the B12 content may be denatured by light and heat, and is unlikely to support overall needs. 

It should also be noted that B12 levels take around two years to become seriously depleted, and won't be restored by short-term changes in the diet. Maintaining healthy B12 levels therefore requires eating plenty of B12-rich foods every day. 

Supplementing with vitamin B12

If your child has a B12 deficiency or is at risk of deficiency due to a plant-based diet, supplementation is crucial. Supplements can help reduce risks to their short-and long-term health, provided they are accompanied by foods rich in vitamin b12.

Supplementary vitamin b12 for kids is available in the form of tablets, pills, powders, and liquids. In extreme cases, vitamin b12 injections may be necessary. 

Vegetarian or vegan mothers who are breastfeeding will need to supplement with B12 to provide enough for herself and her child. The recommended B12 vitamin dosage for breast-feeding mothers is 2.8 mcg a day. [11]

It’s highly recommended that you talk to your health professional about the best vitamin B12 supplement for your needs. An excellent option is Methyl-Life® B-Methylated-II, which contains both L-Methylfolate and Methylcobalamin, the active form of B12. Folate works alongside B12 to support healthy methylation and nervous system support, and is recommended for all pregnant or breastfeeding women to prevent cognitive abnormalities. [12]

Children can start taking B12 supplements from around a year old. The recommended dosage for ages 1-3 years is 0.9mcg, ages 4-8 years is 1.2mcg, and 9-13 years is 18 mcg. [13]

Sublingual forms of B12 are an even better option as the highly vascular tissue of the mucous membrane in the mouth allows the vitamin to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream. 

This is why Methyl-Life’s® Chewable Methylated Multivitamin is in a chewable form. It’s also popular with kids as it tastes good enough to be a treat! Best of all, it contains both active folate (as L-Methylfolate) and active B12, plus a wide range of highly bioavailable cognitive nutrients. Talk to your health professional about the appropriate dosage for your child. 

The takeaway

Children must have vitamin B12: it’s that simple. B12 is a vital part of the processes that contribute to their development, especially the development of their brain and nervous system. 

Including plenty of B12-vitamin foods in a child’s diet is essential, and this alone should be enough to support their needs. However, moms and children who eat vegan or vegetarian diets will need extra support in the form of B12 supplements. It’s highly recommended that vegan or vegetarian families talk to their healthcare practitioner about a vitamin B12 supplement if they have any concerns about their child's Vitamin B12 intake.

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5295116/

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15189115/

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3798916/

4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9607322

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8140678/

6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10966896/

7. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/

8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8140678

9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441923/

10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24667752/

11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534419

12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3218540/

13. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/