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Who should take B12?

The RDA for vitamin B12 ranges from 2.4 mcg for adults to 2.8 mcg for people who are breastfeeding. Most people meet these needs through diet alone, but older adults, people on strict plant-based diets, and those with digestive disorders may benefit from supplements, though dosages vary based on individual needs.

healthline.com - Vitamin B12 Dosage: How Much Should You Take per Day?

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This article examines the evidence behind the recommended dosages for B12 for different people and uses. The ideal dose of vitamin B12 varies based on your sex, age, and reasons for taking it. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble nutrient that’s required for many crucial processes in your body. Vitamin B12 supplements may be beneficial for those with certain health conditions or dietary restrictions. The recommended dosage can vary based on several factors, including your age, sex, and medical history. Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient that plays a critical role in your body. It’s mainly found in animal products, and some people may be at risk of not getting enough from diet alone. If you’re at risk of deficiency, taking a supplement may help you meet your needs. The following factors may put you at a higher risk of not getting enough vitamin B12 from diet alone ( 3 , 6 ): Vitamin B12 deficiency can be caused by not getting enough of this vitamin through your diet, problems with absorbing it, or taking a medication that interferes with its absorption ( 5 ). Because your body can store B12 for several years, serious B12 deficiency is rare, but up to 26% of the population may have a mild deficiency. Over time, B12 deficiency can lead to complications like anemia, nerve damage, and fatigue ( 3 , 4 ). Vitamin B12 is found mostly in animal products, including meats, seafood, dairy products, and eggs. It’s also added to some processed foods, such as cereal and nondairy milk. Additionally, vitamin B12 is important for energy production. However, there’s currently no evidence that taking B12 supplements increases energy levels in people who are not deficient in this nutrient ( 1 ). Vitamin B12 also plays a key role in reducing levels of an amino acid called homocysteine , high levels of which have been linked to chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s ( 2 ). It’s necessary for proper red blood cell production, DNA formation, nerve function, and metabolism ( 1 ). Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in several of your body’s processes. The recommended daily intake (RDI) for vitamin B12 for people over 14 is 2.4 micrograms (mcg) ( 1 ). However, you may want to take more or less, depending on your age, lifestyle, and specific situation. Note that the percent of vitamin B12 your body can absorb from supplements is not very high — it’s estimated that your body only absorbs 10 mcg of a 500-mcg B12 supplement ( 1 ).

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Here are some recommendations for B12 dosages for specific circumstances.

For people over 14, the RDI for vitamin B12 is 2.4 mcg ( 1 ).

Most people meet this requirement through diet.

For example, if you ate two eggs for breakfast (1 mcg of B12), 3 ounces (oz.), or 85 grams (g), of tuna for lunch (2.5 mcg of B12), and 3 oz. (85 g) of beef for dinner (2.4 mcg of B12), you would consume more than double your daily B12 needs ( 7 , 8 , 9 ). Therefore, supplementing with B12 is not recommended for healthy people in this age group. However, if you have any of the factors described above that interfere with vitamin B12 intake or absorption, you may want to consider taking a supplement. Older people are more susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency. While relatively few younger adults are deficient in B12, up to 20% of adults over the age of 60 have less than optimal blood levels of this nutrient ( 10 , 11 ). As you age, your body naturally makes less stomach acid and intrinsic factor — both of which can affect the absorption of vitamin B12. Stomach acid is necessary to access the vitamin B12 found naturally in food, and intrinsic factor is required for its absorption. Due to this increased risk of poor absorption, the National Academy of Medicine recommends that adults over the age of 50 meet most of their vitamin B12 needs through supplements and fortified foods ( 12 ). In a 2013 study in 100 older adults, supplementing with 500 mcg of vitamin B12 for 8 weeks was found to normalize B12 levels in 90% of participants. Higher doses of up to 1,000 mcg, or 1 milligram (mg), may be necessary for some ( 13 ).

Pregnant people

Pregnant people have slightly higher vitamin B12 needs than the general population.

Low maternal levels of this vitamin have been associated with birth defects in infants ( 14 ). Therefore, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin B12 during pregnancy is 2.6 mcg. This level can be met through diet alone or with a prenatal vitamin ( 1 ).

Breastfeeding people

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Vitamin B12 deficiency in breastfed infants has been linked to developmental delay ( 16 ). For these reasons, the RDA for this vitamin for people who are breastfeeding is higher than that for those who are pregnant — namely 2.8 mcg ( 1 ).

Vegetarians and vegans

Vitamin B12 recommendations do not differ for people following a plant-based diet.

However, the RDI of 2.4 mcg for people under 50 years of age is much harder to meet on a vegetarian or vegan diet ( 1 ). Some research suggests that up to 86.5% of vegetarian adults — including older adults — may have low levels of vitamin B12 ( 18 ).

There are currently no government recommendations for B12 supplement dosages for vegetarians.

However, one study suggests that doses up to 6 mcg of vitamin B12 per day may be appropriate for vegans ( 19 ).

B12 for improved energy

Though vitamin B12 is commonly taken to increase energy levels, evidence showing that B12 supplements improve energy levels in people without a deficiency is lacking. However, B12 supplements may help increase energy levels and reduce fatigue those who are deficient in this nutrient ( 20 ). One review recommended that those with vitamin B12 deficiency take 1 mg of vitamin B12 daily for a month, followed by a maintenance dose of 125–250 mcg per day ( 21 ). People who have issues absorbing vitamin B12, such as those with Crohn’s disease or other gastrointestinal issues, may benefit from B12 injections, which bypass the need for absorption by the digestive tract ( 3 ).

B12 for memory and mood

It’s commonly thought that taking vitamin B12 can boost your memory and mood. However, there’s not a lot of evidence to support this theory. Animal studies suggest that vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with memory impairment. Yet, there’s currently no evidence that B12 supplements improve memory in humans who aren’t deficient ( 22 ). In a large review, vitamin B12 supplements had no effect on depressive symptoms in the short term but may help prevent relapse over the long term ( 23 ). There are no specific dosage recommendations for B12 supplements for mental performance or mood.

healthline.com - Vitamin B12 Dosage: How Much Should You Take per Day?

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