Vitamin B12 is a vitamin that is needed to make red blood cells, maintaining the health of the nervous system and it releases energy from food.
Which foods is vitamin B12 found in?
Vitamin B12 can found in meat, salmon, cod and eggs. It can also be found in dairy foods like milk and cheese and it can be found in breakfast cereals. Vegans who need vitamin B12 can get a source through unsweetened soya drinks that are fortified with vitamin B12. They can also get it through yeast extract spreads like Marmite which is fortified with the vitamin. However, this may not be enough for some vegans so as a result, vegans will also need to take a vitamin B12 supplement.
What are the symptoms and potential life threatening conditions if someone has a vitamin B12 deficiency?
If someone has a vitamin B12 deficiency, then the symptoms can be very dangerous. For example, symptoms can include skin that has a pale, yellow tinge to it and a sore, red tongue. In addition, mouth ulcers can occur and a sensation of pins and needles can be felt easily. Furthermore, there can be changes in the way that they walk and move around and disturbed vision. Finally, irritability and depression can be symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Are there any symptoms of overdosing on vitamin B12? If so, what are they?
There are definitely health implications of overdosing on vitamin B12, but they may not be life threatening. The symptoms can include dizziness, headaches, anxiety, nausea and vomiting.
What are the side effects of the vitamin?
Even though the side effects are not common, a serious allergic reaction can occur. This can include the swelling of the face, tongue and throat. The swelling of the throat can lead to difficulty swallowing and breathing.
What is the optimal dosage of vitamin B12 for children and adults?
The optimal dosage for newborns to half a year old would be 0.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 daily. For infants from seven months old to a year old, 0.5 micrograms daily would be enough. Children who are one to three years of age would need to take 0.9 micrograms of vitamin B12 daily. For children who are four to eight years old, the optimal dosage of vitamin B12 would be 1.2 micrograms daily. For children who are between the ages of nine and thirteen, the optimal dosage of vitamin B12 would be 1.8 micrograms every day. For teens, the recommended dosage of vitamin B12 would be 2.4 micrograms every day. For adults, the optimal dosage of vitamin B12 would be 2.4 micrograms every day (just like teens). For pregnant teens and women, the recommended amount of vitamin B12 would be 2.6 micrograms every day. Finally, for teens and women who are breastfeeding, the recommended amount of vitamin B12 would be 2.8 micrograms.