Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient. Also known as cobalamin, it is a water-soluble vitamin found primarily in animal foods such as meat and dairy products. This nutrient’s main function is to maintain healthy nerve function and help make red blood cells (RBCs) and DNA, the genetic material of all cells. It also helps prevent megaloblastic anemia, which is characterized by a significant decrease in the number of red blood cells.
It’s important to note that vitamin B12 deficiency can affect everyone, including children. Children’s vitamin B12 needs increase with age, with infants 7 to 12 months needing just 0.5 mcg per day, while children 9 to 13 years old need only 1.8 mcg. Meanwhile, the daily recommendation for teenagers jumps to 2.4 mcg, the same as that recommended for adults, according to the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements.
If children don’t get enough of this essential vitamin, it can lead to a variety of health problems and complications.
Read also: Tingling in the Hands and Feet Can Be a Sign of Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Other Neurological Symptoms to Watch Out for
Effects of Vitamin B12 Deficiency on Children
In my interactions with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Sumit Chakravarti, Deputy Director and Head, NICU, Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Asian Hospital, Faridabad“The body cannot produce vitamin B12 on its own, so it must be obtained from animal foods or supplements. Vitamin B12 deficiency in children can cause a range of symptoms, including fatigue and irritability,” he says.
Children may experience weight loss, delays in reaching developmental milestones such as walking, talking, sitting and crawling, as well as gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, vomiting and diarrhea.
In some children, low levels of vitamin B12 can also cause neurological problems, such as poor memory, a reduced sense of touch, and tingling in the hands and feet.
Moreover, glossitis, characterised by swelling and inflammation of the tongue, is one of the symptoms of megaloblastic anemia in children, he added.
What Causes Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Children?
According to a study published in Health, Population and Nutrition Journal, Researchers looked at vitamin B12 deficiency in more than 500 elementary school students and found that about 34 percent, or one in three students, had a B12 deficiency.
Children who did not consume animal products were nearly twice as likely to have low vitamin B12 levels, and students with a lower BMI were also more likely to be deficiency, the study found.
Dr. Chakravarti lists the following as possible causes of vitamin B12 deficiency in children:
- Inadequate intake of vitamin B12
- Inflammation of the stomach lining, or gastritis
- Children with pernicious anemia, a rare genetic disorder
- Crohn’s and Celiac Disease
- Transcobalamin II deficiency
How to mitigate the risk
However, vegans and vegetarians are advised to consume fortified foods such as cereals and plant-based milks.
The doctor adds, “If your child won’t eat animal products or has a medical condition that affects the body’s absorption of nutrients, consider vitamin B12 supplements or foods fortified with vitamin B12.”
Additionally, parents should ensure their children have regular medical checkups to monitor vitamin B12 levels and address any underlying conditions that may affect vitamin B12 absorption.
Additionally, it is important to note that nursing mothers need to consume enough vitamin B12 to meet their infant’s needs.
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your expert if you are dealing with any health issues to get the necessary treatment.]
