Pregnant women need 2.6 micrograms daily and women who are breastfeeding need 2.8 micrograms daily. However, due to absorption rate decreasing with age, people over age 50 may need as much as 500 to 1,000 micrograms of supplemental vitamin B-12 each day.
There is no risk of an overdose when taking large amounts of vitamin B-12 such as 1000 mcg, because it is a water-soluble vitamin. Meaning the body will use the amount that it needs then the excess will be excreted through urine.
It's used to treat and prevent vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia (when you have low levels of this vitamin in your body). Your body requires vitamin B12 to make red blood cells.
B12 is an important nutrient that is popularly used as a nutritional supplement, even by those without a B12 deficiency. Though doses of up to 2,000 mcg of vitamin B12 are considered safe, it's best to speak with a doctor to find out whether taking a supplement is necessary.
* Based on the new labeling that started January 1, 2020, the target is 4.5 mcg three times a day. If you're over 65 years of age, you should take at least 1,000 mcg (µg) cyanocobalamin every day. Tip: If you're experiencing deficiency symptoms, the best test is a urine MMA, not serum B12 level.
As a general rule of thumb, take your B vitamins in the morning or with a meal. Vitamin B12, for example, should definitely be taken in the morning. This is because it is important for energy metabolism, which may interrupt your sleep if taken at night.
The Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board recommends that healthy adult men and women over 19 years old consume 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B-12 each day. Pregnant women need 2.6 micrograms daily and women who are breastfeeding need 2.8 micrograms daily.
As summarized in the table provided, vitamin B12 (cobalamin) absorption and utilization by the body can be compromised with the chronic use of certain medications which include: colchicine, chloramphenicol, ethanol, histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RA), metformin, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI).
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that must be ingested daily because our bodies don't naturally produce it. B12 is important for many enzymatic processes, such as helping turn the food you eat into usable energy. The recommended daily amount for B12 is 2.4 mcg for adults.
Safety and side effects
When taken at appropriate doses, vitamin B-12 supplements are generally considered safe. While the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, higher doses have been found to be safe. Your body absorbs only as much as it needs, and any excess passes through your urine.
Lifelong vitamin B12 supplements may be required at doses between 100 and 1,000 micrograms. As such, "B12 vitamin 1,000 mcg" refers to a high dose (1,000 micrograms) of vitamin B12 suitable for someone with nutrient absorption issues or pernicious anemia.
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep your body's blood and nerve cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all of your cells. Vitamin B12 also helps prevent megaloblastic anemia, a blood condition that makes people tired and weak.
Adults (aged 19 to 64) need about 1.5 micrograms a day of vitamin B12. If you eat meat, fish or dairy foods, you should be able to get enough vitamin B12 from your diet. But as vitamin B12 is not found naturally in foods such as fruit, vegetables and grains, vegans may not get enough of it.
In some people, high levels of B12 may cause gastrointestinal problems such as bloating and diarrhea. And if you have high blood pressure or poor cardiovascular health, having too much B12 may further complicate these issues. Pregnant and breastfeeding women may also need to be especially mindful of B12 levels.
Vitamin B-12 can cause very rare but serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). This includes swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, and difficulty swallowing and breathing. If this occurs after you take vitamin B-12, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately.
Although it's less common, people with vitamin B12 deficiency caused by a prolonged poor diet may be advised to stop taking the tablets once their vitamin B12 levels have returned to normal and their diet has improved.
Once you begin treating your vitamin B12 deficiency, it can take up to six to 12 months to fully recover. It is also common to not experience any improvement during the first few months of treatment.
Fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins
Some combinations should be avoided, even if they aren't inherently problematic. For example, although it's safe to take vitamin D with vitamin B12, it's not advisable, says Virgilio Sanchez, MD, a board certified family medicine physician at Conviva Care Center in Miami, Florida.
Furthermore, caffeine interferes with the metabolism of certain B vitamins, including thiamine. However, because caffeine increases stomach acid secretion, it actually boosts the absorption of vitamin B12.
So does vitamin B12 give you energy? While B12 doesn't directly provide energy, it does give the body the tools it needs to convert food molecules into energy. Getting the recommended daily amount of B12 can therefore help ensure that the body is able to make the energy it needs to do everything you need it to do.
Diet. Some people can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency as a result of not getting enough vitamin B12 from their diet. A diet that includes meat, fish and dairy products usually provides enough vitamin B12, but people who do not regularly eat these foods can become deficient.
Bananas also contain fibre and potassium. It helps manage blood pressure, reduce stress, and relieve constipation and ulcer problems. The fruit also helps regulate body temperature. Another fruit that is rich in vitamin B12 is blueberries.
Vitamin B12 testing requires a blood sample, which is usually taken from your arm in a medical office, health clinic, hospital, or lab.