Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 3 : Recommended Dietary Allowances for Nutrients

Vitamin B12

As a component of several coenzymes, vitamin B12 has an important role in the synthesis of nucleic acids. Its metabolism is closely interrelated with that of folic acid. Vitamin B12 occurs only in foods of animal origin while foods of plant origin do not contain this vitamin. For the absorption of vitamin B12 , an intrinsic factor present in gastric juice is essential. The recommended allowances (?g/day) are as follows:

Table 11: RDA for Vitamin B12 (µg/day)

Group	Vitamin B12( ?g/d)
Adult man Adult woman	1 1
Pregnant woman Lactating woman	1.2 1.5
Infants:	0.2
Children:	0.2- 1.0
Adolescents: 10-18 years	0.2-1.0

Ref: Nutrition Expert group, ICMR(2010)