The Revised D‐A‐CH‐Reference Values for the Intake of Vitamin B12: Prevention of Deficiency and Beyond

• Published in: Molecular nutrition & food research 2019-03, Vol.63 (6), p.e1801178-n/a
• Main Authors: Ströhle, Alexander, Richter, Margrit, González‐Gross, Marcela, Neuhäuser‐Berthold, Monika, Wagner, Karl‐Heinz, Leschik‐Bonnet, Eva, Egert, Sarah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Adults; Biomarkers; Body mass; Breast milk; Breastfeeding & lactation; Children; cobalamine; Cyanocobalamin; Fetuses; Food intake; Growth factors; holo‐transcobalamin; Infants; methylmalonic acid; Milk; Nutrient deficiency; Nutrition; Pregnancy; reference value; Vitamin B12; vitamin B12
• ISSN: 1613-4125; 1613-4133; 1613-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201801178

Scope The nutrition societies of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are the joint editors of the “D‐A‐CH reference values for nutrient intake”, which are revised regularly. Methods and Results By reviewing vitamin‐B12‐related biomarker studies, the reference values for vitamin B12 were revised in 2018. For adults, the estimated intake is based on the adequate serum concentrations of holotranscobalamin and methylmalonic acid. The estimated values for children and adolescents are extrapolated from the adult reference value by considering differences in body mass, an allometric exponent, and growth factors. For infants below 4 months of age, an estimated value is set based on the vitamin B12 intake via breast milk. The reference values for pregnant and lactating women consider the requirements for the fetus and for loss via breast milk. The estimated values for vitamin B12 intake for infants, children, and adolescents range from 0.5 to 4.0 µg d−1. For adults, the estimated values are set at 4.0 µg d−1, and for pregnant and lactating women, they are set at 4.5 and 5.5 µg d−1, respectively. Conclusion Based on the data of several vitamin B12 status biomarkers studies, the reference value for vitamin B12 intake for adults is raised from 3.0 to 4.0 µg d−1. In 2018, the nutrition societies of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (D‐A‐CH) revised the reference values for vitamin B12. For the value for adults, adequate biomarker status of vitamin B12 in healthy people was considered, notably adequate serum concentrations of holotranscobalamin and methylmalonic acid. As a result, the revised reference value for adults was raised from 3 up to 4 µg d−1.