Translations:Vitamin B12/32/en

Dietary recommendations

Some research shows that most people in the United States and the United Kingdom consume sufficient vitamin B₁₂. However, other research suggests that the proportion of people with low or marginal levels of vitamin B₁₂ is up to 40% in the Western world. Grain-based foods can be fortified by having the vitamin added to them. Vitamin B₁₂ supplements are available as single or multivitamin tablets. Pharmaceutical preparations of vitamin B₁₂ may be given by intramuscular injection. Since there are few non-animal sources of the vitamin, vegans are advised to consume a dietary supplement or fortified foods for B₁₂ intake, or risk serious health consequences. Children in some regions of developing countries are at particular risk due to increased requirements during growth coupled with diets low in animal-sourced foods.