Vitamin B12 is an important component of the nervous system.
Why is my child speaking late, or could they have ADHD?
Mother: "Why does my child speak later than others?" or "He doesn't turn around when I call him. Could he have ADHD, doctor?"
Doctor: These might not be behavioral issues…but could start with a small nutrient deficiency in your child's body called vitamin B12.
What is vitamin B12?
Doctor: Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is an important vitamin for the nervous system and brain, especially in children aged 1-3 years.
Mother: And what are the benefits of vitamin B12?
Doctor: Vitamin B12 helps build myelin sheath, which is like an insulator around the nerves [1] , allowing electrical signals from the brain to reach the muscles quickly, accurately, and without interruption. If vitamin B12 is deficient, the signaling becomes slow, blurry, and choppy, like a slow, choppy, or unloading internet connection.
How to tell if your child is deficient in vitamin B12.
Doctor: Children who are deficient in vitamin B12 may show signs that parents may not notice, such as…
- Speak slowly, move slowly.
- Short attention span; not interested in their surroundings.
- They have slower-than-average language development.
- Easily tired, pale complexion.
Research has found that children with lower than normal levels of vitamin B12 have significantly lower mental development scores than normal groups, and severe vitamin B12 deficiency can also affect motor development. [2]
Vitamin B12 deficiency is common...but it shouldn't be overlooked.
Mother: Where can I find vitamin B12, doctor?
Doctor: Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that the body cannot produce on its own. Therefore, young children must obtain it from food, milk, or through supplements. What's concerning is that children who eat little, dislike meat, or even those who drink certain milk formulas that lack vitamin B12 are at risk of unknowingly developing a deficiency. This deficiency can have lifelong changes in their brain's communication systems, as slow nerve development means a lagging developmental stage.
Advice from the doctor:
- Check the nutrition label on milk to see if it contains vitamin B12.
- If your child has a delayed speech or developmental delay, you should consult a doctor to check their vitamin B12 levels.
- Supplement your diet with vitamin B12, including red meat, eggs, and seafood.
Mothers can choose to give their children UHT milk fortified with vitamins B12, sphingomyelin, and DHA to strengthen nerve connections, enabling children to learn faster, respond quickly, and make better cognitive connections. In short, a sharp mind starts with strong neural connections, and vitamin B12 is the essential "plug" that is indispensable.
Dr. Worawit
Kanthamalee
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Phyathai Phaholyothin Hospital
Dr. Worawit
Kanthamalee
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Phyathai Phaholyothin Hospital
Written by:
Dr. Worawit
Kanthamalee
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Phyathai Phaholyothin Hospital
References:
1. Briani, C., Dalla Torre, C., Citton, V., Manara, R., Pompanin, S., Binotto, G., & Adami, F. (2013). Cobalamin deficiency: clinical picture and radiological findings. *Nutrients*, *5*(11), 4521–4539. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu5114521
2. Kvestad, I., Taneja, S., Kumar, T., Hysing, M., Refsum, H., & Bhandari, N. (2017). Vitamin B-12 status in infancy is positively associated with development and cognitive functioning 5 y later in Nepalese children. *The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition*, *105*(5), 1122–1131. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.116.144931
