B12 & Infants

Vitamin B12 is usually found in meat and meat products and is necessary for certain functions in the human body. Deficiencies of B12 can lead to fatigue and weakness; extreme deficiencies are linked to neurological disorders. Infants, like adults, need B12 to support proper development.

B12

• B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in certain foods, like meat and meat products, and added to others, like breakfast cereals, and can be purchased as a supplement. The vitamin is required for the proper formation of red blood cells, neurological function and DNA synthesis.

Recommended Intakes

• The National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends that infants, between birth and six months of age, receive 0.4 micrograms (mcg) of B12 daily. To put this in context, the NIH recommends a daily intake 2.4 mcg for individuals over the age of 14.

B12 Foods

• Vitamin B12 is found in animal products like fish, meat, eggs, poultry, milk and milk products. This vitamin can be transferred to the infant from the mother in breast milk. As long as the mother is ingesting enough -- the NIH recommends 2.8 mcg of B12 daily for lactating mothers -- the infant should receive its recommended allowance.