Vitamin B12 (Methycobalamin)

Vitamin B12 Claims

Vitamin B12 plays an important role in maintaining a healthy foetal central nervous system and brain development during pregnancy. It helps to produce myelin which acts as an insulating sheath around nerve fibers. Myelin is essential for proper nerve signaling and brain function. The developing baby relies on adequate vitamin B12 for myelination of neurons as the brain develops.

Vitamin B12 plays a role in general nervous system health by supporting the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine that help regulate mood, memory and cognition. These neurotransmitters are important for proper brain development in the baby.

In short, vitamin B12 aids in the production of myelin, neurotransmitters and other compounds required for building a healthy brain and nervous system in the developing baby. As such, pregnant women need adequate vitamin B12 in their diet through foods like meat, eggs and dairy or supplements to support optimal brain development in their baby.

References

Food Standards Australia New Zealand. (2017). Schedule 4 Nutrition health and related claims. Schedule 1 RDI and ESADDI. Australia Government. Federal Register of Legislation.

Gropper, S., Smith, J., & Groff, J. (2009). Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism (5th ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Institute of Medicine (US) Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes. (1998). Introduction to Dietary Reference Intakes. In Dietary reference intakes for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline. National Academies Press (US).

Marshall, N. E., et al (2022, May). The importance of nutrition in pregnancy and lactation: lifelong consequences. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 226(5), 607–632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2021.12.035