Vitamins are indispensable elements of the human body. Our need for vitamins begins as an unborn baby during the mother's pregnancy and continues throughout life. B12 is one of these essential vitamins.
Vitamin B12; It helps in the production of red blood cells, which means it prevents anemia. It protects the central nervous system. It helps the absorption of food taken orally from the intestines. It improves memory and prevents insomnia. In other words, it has a very important place in the physical and mental development of children.
Although vitamin B12 is abundant in animal foods, it is most commonly found in; It is found in foods such as milk, eggs, cheese, yoghurt, fish, liver and kidney. Vegetables do not contain B12.
If mothers encounter a nutritional or pre-existing B12 deficiency during pregnancy, they should not provide enough vitamin B12 to their babies. They cannot transmit it and the children born do not have enough B12 stored. Therefore, it is extremely important for mothers to have enough B12 both during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The main reason for B12 deficiency in infants is B12 deficiency in their mothers.
The most common symptom of B12 deficiency in babies is growth and developmental delay. If there is something you do not like in your baby's development or if your child has a loss of appetite, you should definitely consult your pediatrician about these symptoms. Because the sooner we diagnose B12 deficiency and intervene, the easier it will be to reduce the symptoms. If precautions are not taken in time, B12 deficiency can lead to very serious diseases such as anemia and serious neurological damage.
Other complaints seen in vitamin B12 deficiency are growth retardation, loss of appetite, difficulty in swallowing, and retardation in children's motor development. In order to detect these delays, it is very important for families to be aware. For example, babies can normally hold their heads after reaching the age of 3 months. When they are 7-8 months old, they can sit without support. However, if a baby has B12 deficiency, their development such as being able to control their head, sitting up on their own, and walking and speaking within the required time will be disrupted even after these periods. This is the story of mothers It is very important that they observe the processes well. In this respect, it is very important to know the normal development stages of your babies. It is most likely that you will get the most appropriate information from your pediatrician.
Since B12 deficiency is common especially between the ages of 0-2, it is necessary to monitor children's vitamin B12 levels during routine check-ups. A child must eat 2 or 3 pieces of meat from his own fist at least two or three times a week. Likewise, it is essential and essential to eat fish twice a week.
In addition, mothers during pregnancy and breastfeeding should have their B12 checked and pay attention to conscious nutrition for the health of their children.
In B12 supplementation treatment, the pediatrician and the patient must work together. It is necessary to prepare a good nutrition list as a team and apply vitamin supplement treatment under the supervision of a doctor. In addition to adding foods rich in B12 to the diet, it is also possible to give injections and oral treatments containing B12, and the average duration of treatment is between 3-6 months.
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