Vitamin B12: What To Know
Are you getting enough vitamin B12? To stay healthy, you will want to make sure you do.
Vitamin B12 has many effects on your body. For example, it helps you make DNA and red blood cells.
Since your body does not produce vitamin B12, you must obtain it from animal foods or supplements. You should do this regularly because your body does not store vitamin B12 for a long time.
How much does it cost?
The answer depends on your age, eating habits, physical condition, and the medications you take.
The average recommended amount, in micrograms (mcg), varies by age:
Infants under 6 months: 0.4 mcg
Infants 7–12 months: 0.5 mcg
Children 1–3 years old: 0.9 mcg
Children 4–8 years old: 1.2 mcg
Children 9–13 years old: 1.8 mcg
Adolescents aged 14–18: 2.4 micrograms (2.6 micrograms per day for pregnant women, 2.8 micrograms per day for breastfeeding)
Adults: 2.4 mcg (2.6 micrograms per day for pregnant women, 2.8 micrograms per day for breastfeeding)
Vitamin B12
Food sources of vitamin B12
You can get it from animal foods rich in natural vitamin B12, or from foods rich in vitamin B12.
Animal sources include dairy products, eggs, fish, meat, and poultry. If you are looking for foods rich in B12, you can check the nutrition facts label of the product.
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Most Americans have enough of this nutrient. If you are not sure, you can ask your doctor if you should do a blood test to check your vitamin B12 level.
As we age, it becomes more difficult to absorb this vitamin. This can also happen if you have had bariatric surgery or other surgery to remove part of your stomach, or if you drink heavily.
If you have the following conditions, you are also more likely to develop vitamin B12 deficiency:
Atrophic gastritis, in which your stomach lining has thinned
Pernicious anemia makes it difficult for your body to absorb vitamin B12
Diseases that affect the small intestine, such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, bacterial growth, or parasites
Alcohol abuse or excessive drinking can make it more difficult for your body to absorb nutrients or prevent you from consuming enough calories. One sign of your lack of B12 may be glossitis or a swollen and inflamed tongue.
Immune system disorders, such as Graves’ disease or lupus
Been taking certain drugs that hinder the absorption of B12. This includes some heartburn medications, including proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (omeprazole OTC), pantoprazole (Protonix) and rabeprazole (Aciphex), H2 receptor blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and famotidine (Pepcid AC); and certain diabetes drugs, such as metformin (Glucophage).
If you follow a vegan diet (that is, you do not eat any animal products, including meat, milk, cheese, and eggs), or you are a vegetarian and do not eat enough eggs or dairy products to meet your vitamin B12 needs, you can get vitamin B12 deficiency. In both cases, you can add fortified foods or take supplements to your diet to meet this need.
We are vitamin B12 suppliers. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in our products.
