Nutrition 101: Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is one of eight B vitamins. All of the B vitamins are water soluble, meaning that the body does not store them but excretes them in the urine. Vitamin B12 is also known as cyanocobalamin and cobalamin.

Recommended Int​akes

The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for Vitamin B12 are shown below:

Because Vitamin B12 is water soluble, excessive intake of foods that contain Vitamin B12 has not shown to be toxic to humans.

Because 10 to 30% of elderly people may malabsorb food-bound B12, it is advisable for those older than 50 years to meet their recommendation mainly by consuming foods fortified with B12 or a supplement containing B12.

What Does Vitamin B1​2 Do?

Like the other B vitamins, Vitamin B12’s main role is to help your body use carbohydrates, protein, and fat to make energy. Your body needs it to form adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which every cell of the body uses for energy. B-complex vitamins are also needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver.

Vitamin B12 is especially important for maintaining healthy nerve cells. The myelin sheath, a coating that surrounds the nerves, does not form properly when B12 is deficient. Research is being conducted around supplementation of B12 and its ability to be an effective pain and symptom reliever for a variety of nervous system disorders.

Vitamin B12 helps in the production of the body’s genetic material, DNA and RNA. DNA provides information to red blood cells as they mature. Without B12, synthesis of DNA becomes defective and, in turn, so does the information needed for red blood cell formation. The blood cells become too large and poorly shaped and lose their ability to function effectively, a condition known as pernicious anemia. However, the most common cause of pernicious anemia is a lack of intrinsic factor, a protein made in the stomach that is required for the absorption of B12.

It is not uncommon for elderly people to be mildly deficient in Vitamin B12. They have less stomach acid and therefore less intrinsic factor. Low levels of B12 can cause a range of symptoms, including diarrhea, nervousness, fatigue, shortness of breath, numbness, or a tingling sensation in the fingers and toes. Severe deficiency of B12 causes nerve damage.

Other groups of individuals may also be at risk for B12 deficiency anemia. Vegans and some vegetarians are at risk because Vitamin B12 is found mainly in animal foods. These individuals may want to consider a supplement and/or products that have been fortified with B12, such as ready-to-eat breakfast cereals. Additionally, people with problems absorbing nutrients because of conditions such as Crohn’s disease, pancreatic disease, and some gastrointestinal surgeries may be at risk for deficiency. Those at risk also include individuals infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), an organism in the intestines that can cause an ulcer. H. pylori damages stomach cells that make intrinsic factor. People with eating disorders and those with HIV are also prone to deficiency.

Top Vitamin B12-Ric​h Foods

Vitamin B12 is found only in animal foods and fortified foods. The best sources of Vitamin B12 include eggs, milk, cheese, milk products, meat, fish, shellfish, and poultry. Some soy and rice beverages and soy-based meat substitutes are fortified with Vitamin B12.

Nutrition Facts L​abel and t​he % Daily Value

In the United States: The % daily value gives you an idea of how much Vitamin B12 is in the food you eat. The daily value for Vitamin B12 is 6 mcg, which is much higher than the DRI for all age groups. It is unclear why the daily value is so high; it may have been established a long time ago and therefore may need to be updated. The FDA does not require that the % daily value for Vitamin B12 be included on the Nutrition Facts label.

In Canada: The daily value for Vitamin B12 is 2 mcg, which is slightly lower than the RDA for adults. The number you see on the Nutrition Facts label is a percentage calculated by dividing the amount of Vitamin B12 in one serving of the food by the daily value. For example, 1 cup of enriched soy beverage with 2.9 mcg of Vitamin B12 would have 145% of the daily value (DV). However, listing the daily value for Vitamin B12 on the Nutrition Facts label is optional. Even though this value is much greater than the DV, this amount is still considered safe, as excess amounts of Vitamin B12 are excreted in the urine and will not accumulate in the body.

Nutrient Interactions

Folate: Vitamin B12 activates the metabolically active form of folate.

Potassium: In some individuals, potassium supplements can reduce absorption of Vitamin B12, possibly contributing to Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Carolyn Berry, RD

Alumni: University of British Columbia – Carolyn Berry is a Vancouver-based Registered Dietitian, self-proclaimed foodie, marathon runner, and owner of Berry Nourished. Carolyn works in a variety of areas including clinical nutrition, outpatient counselling at Medisys Preventive Health Clinic, as a nutrition tour leader with Save-On-Foods, and in the media, including segments on CBC Television, CKNW and Spice Radio. Through informative and practical nutrition advice and her food-first approach to health, Carolyn fulfills her passion to empower others with knowledge about nutrition so that they can make the best decisions to improve their health. She strongly believes that food should be both healthful and delicious.