Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is unique among the B vitamins in its structure, absorption, metabolism and daily requirements. B12 is the only vitamin that contains a mineral -- cobalt. Before it can be absorbed, the cobalamin in your food must first be bound to intrinsic factor, a protein produced by your stomach. Cobalamin is the only B vitamin that is stored in your body for prolonged periods. Daily requirements for B12 are measured in micrograms, rather than milligrams like other B vitamins. Even though minute amounts are required, vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient, particularly for young children.
Vitamin B12 and Blood Cell Production
The Linus Pauling Institute reports that cobalamin acts as a cofactor for two important enzymes in humans. One of these enzymes is important in the initial steps of hemoglobin synthesis. Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein found in your red blood cells. B12 also assists the enzyme that participates in the manufacture of DNA, which is needed for cellular division. Children must produce abundant amounts of red blood cells to accommodate rapid growth, and B12 deficiency can lead to anemia and poor development.
Vitamin B12 and Nervous System Development
Cobalamin's ability to act as an enzymatic cofactor accounts for its role in normal nervous system development. The same enzyme that helps your red blood cells make hemoglobin is also required for the production of myelin, which is the protective coating that surrounds your nerves. Without healthy myelin, your nerves are unable to efficiently conduct impulses. As a child's nervous system develops, her need for adequate myelin production is particularly acute.
B12 Participates in Energy Metabolism
Your cells are efficient machines, and they often recruit a single enzyme to perform several tasks. Cobalamin's duties as a cofactor include its participation in biochemical reactions which help your cells produce energy from fats and proteins. Children's bodies consume a great deal of energy as they manufacture new tissues and repair existing ones, and vitamin B12 plays a vital role in these activities.
Vitamin B12 Dosages for Children
In 1998 the National Academy of Sciences established recommended daily allowances and adequate daily intakes for vitamin B12. These are the dosages that are recommended to prevent deficiency, and larger doses -- up to several hundred mcg -- are usually well-tolerated. Daily requirements are the same for both girls and boys: infants up to 6 months, 0.4mcg; 7 to 12 months, 0.5mcg; 1 to 3 years, 0.9mcg; 4 to 8 years, 1.2mcg; 9 to 13 years, 1.8mcg; 14 to 18 years, 2.4mcg. If you think your child needs additional vitamin B12, ask your physician about supplementation.
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