The B-vitamins have long been associated with keeping the nervous system healthy. Certain B-vitamins have a greater effect on nervous system function than others. This is demonstrated when a dietary deficiency of a particular B-vitamin results in neurological problems. The physiological importance of B-vitamins is similar in children and adults, yet the Recommended Dietary Allowance or RDA for each age group is different.
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1, or thiamin, is used by the body to help make enzymes. It is also needed to maintain brain energy and metabolism. Vitamin B1 deficiency can cause a variety of problems, the most severe being beriberi. There are different types of beriberi, and most are associated with neurologic symptoms, such as seizures and reflex problems. The RDA for vitamin B1 for children 1 to 13 years old is 0.5 to 0.9mg per day.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, has a variety of functions throughout the body and is primarily associated with immunity. It also has roles in fighting asthma, allergies and arthritis. In the central nervous system, vitamin B6 is needed to make dopamine and serotonin, two brain neurotransmitters. Deficiency can lead to nervous system problems such as depression, headache and seizures, says the NIH. The RDA for vitamin B6 for children 1 to 13 years old is 0.5 to 1.0mg per day.
Vitamin B9
Vitamin B9, or folic acid, is a vitamin crucial to fetal development. The NIH says this vitamin's importance in the nervous system is highlighted when pregnant women are deficient. Maternal deficiency can lead to birth defects of the baby's brain and spinal cord, called anencephaly and spina bifida, respectively. Vitamin B9 is also required for making enzymes and proteins and manufacturing red blood cells. The RDA for vitamin B9 is 150 to 300mcg per day for children ages 1 to 13, and 600mcg for pregnant women.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12, also called methylcobalamin, is needed throughout the body to help fight anemia. It also is required to make DNA and new red blood cells. Vitamin B12 is also important in the central nervous system because deficiency can lead to spasticity and difficulty with walking. The RDA for vitamin B12 is 0.9 to 1.8mcg per day for children ages 1 to 13.
