As a water-soluble nutrient, vitamin B-12 works by helping your body maintain proper nerve function and red blood cell production. If you don't get enough vitamin B-12 each day, you may be at risk of developing anemia, a condition characterized by severe fatigue, weakness, breathing difficulties and pale skin. The recommended dietary intake for vitamin B-12 varies depending on your age and, in certain cases, your gender. Discuss any questions your may have about your daily vitamin B-12 requirement with your medical provider.
Adults and Adolescents 14 and Older
Health professionals with the Office of Dietary Supplements report that adults and adolescents aged 14 and older need to consume 2.4 mcg of vitamin B-12 each day. The best way to get the vitamin B-12 your body requires is to maintain a diet full of vitamin B-12-rich foods, including fish, poultry, meat, milk and eggs. If your daily food choices limit your intake of this nutrient, your physician may recommend adding a vitamin B-12 supplement to your diet. Children under the age of 18 should not be administered nutritional supplements, including vitamin B-12, unless this treatment is recommended by a physician.
Women Who Are Pregnant or Breast-feeding
The recommended dietary intake for vitamin B-12 is highest for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Pregnancy and lactation places a great deal of stress on a woman's body, which necessitates increased nutrient consumption. Vitamin B-12 is also passed to a developing infant through her mother's breast milk. For these reasons, expectant mothers require 2.6 mcg of vitamin B-12 daily, while nursing mothers need 2.8 mcg of this nutrient every day.
Preteens
Preteens 9 to 13 should consume 1.8 mcg of vitamin B-12 each day. If your child refuses to eat foods naturally rich in this nutrient, alternativee sources of vitamin B-12 may include breakfast cereals and other foods that are fortified with B-12.
Young Children
Young boys and girls require less vitamin B-12 because their bodies are smaller and still developing. For this reason, children from 4 to 9 need 1.2 mcg of vitamin B-12 daily.
Toddlers
Each day, toddlers under 4 years old should consume 0.9 mcg of vitamin B-12. If you're concerned that your youngster isn't getting enough of this nutrient, seek additional guidance from your child's pediatrician.
Infants
When infants are 7 to 12 months of age, their recommended daily intake of vitamin B-12 is 0.5 mcg. The dietary requirement for vitamin B-12 for infants younger than 7 months is 0.4 mcg each day. Women who do not breast-feed their babies should provide their infant with formula that is fortified with vitamin B-12 to ensure that the baby's daily nutritional needs are met.
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