Vitamin B-12 Dietary References, Institute of Medicine (USA): Dietary Reference Intakes - The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements (2006)

Dietary references values for Vitamin B-12 according to Institute of Medicine (USA): Dietary Reference Intakes - The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements (2006)1.

Dietary reference values as published by the Institute of Medicine (USA) in a 2006 selective summary of previously established reference values.

Recommended Dietary AllowanceRecommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): Average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%–98%) healthy individuals; often used to plan nutritionally adequate diets for individuals.
μg/day: microgram per day
1.00 - 
3.99 years
 male
0.9 μg/day
1.00 - 
3.99 years
 female
0.9 μg/day
4.00 - 
8.99 years
 male
1.2 μg/day
4.00 - 
8.99 years
 female
1.2 μg/day
9.00 - 
13.99 years
 male
1.8 μg/day
9.00 - 
13.99 years
 female
1.8 μg/day
14.00 - 
18.99 years
 male
2.4 μg/day
14.00 - 
18.99 years
 female
2.4 μg/day
19.00 - 
30.99 years
 male
2.4 μg/day
19.00 - 
30.99 years
 female
2.4 μg/day
31.00 - 
50.99 years
 male
2.4 μg/day
31.00 - 
50.99 years
 female
2.4 μg/day
51.00 - 
69.99 years
 male
2.4 μg/day
Because 10 to 30 percent of older people may malabsorb food-bound vitamin B 12 , for adults over 50 years old it is advisable for most of this amount to be obtained by consuming foods fortified with vitamin B 12 or a vitamin B 12 -containng supplement.
51.00 - 
69.99 years
 female
2.4 μg/day
Because 10 to 30 percent of older people may malabsorb food-bound vitamin B 12 , for adults over 50 years old it is advisable for most of this amount to be obtained by consuming foods fortified with vitamin B 12 or a vitamin B 12 -containng supplement.
70.00 - 
 years
 male
2.4 μg/day
Because 10 to 30 percent of older people may malabsorb food-bound vitamin B 12 , for adults over 50 years old it is advisable for most of this amount to be obtained by consuming foods fortified with vitamin B 12 or a vitamin B 12 -containng supplement.
70.00 - 
 years
 female
2.4 μg/day
Because 10 to 30 percent of older people may malabsorb food-bound vitamin B 12 , for adults over 50 years old it is advisable for most of this amount to be obtained by consuming foods fortified with vitamin B 12 or a vitamin B 12 -containng supplement.
 - 
18.99 years
 lactating
2.8 μg/day
19.00 - 
50.99 years
 lactating
2.8 μg/day
 - 
18.99 years
 pregnant
2.6 μg/day
19.00 - 
50.99 years
 pregnant
2.6 μg/day

Adequate Intake

Adequate Intake (AI): Intake at this level is assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy; established when evidence is insufficient to develop an RDA.

μg/day: microgram per day

0.00 -

0.49 years

0.4 μg/day

0.50 -

0.99 years

0.5 μg/day

Estimated Average RequirementEstimated Average Requirement (EAR): Average daily level of intake estimated to meet the requirements of 50% of healthy individuals; usually used to assess the nutrient intakes of groups of people and to plan nutritionally adequate diets for them; can also be used to assess the nutrient intakes of individuals.
μg/day: microgram per day
1.00 - 
3.99 years
 male
0.7 μg/day
1.00 - 
3.99 years
 female
0.7 μg/day
4.00 - 
8.99 years
 male
1.0 μg/day
4.00 - 
8.99 years
 female
1.0 μg/day
9.00 - 
13.99 years
 male
1.5 μg/day
9.00 - 
13.99 years
 female
1.5 μg/day
14.00 - 
18.99 years
 male
2.0 μg/day
14.00 - 
18.99 years
 female
2.0 μg/day
19.00 - 
30.99 years
 male
2.0 μg/day
19.00 - 
30.99 years
 female
2.0 μg/day
31.00 - 
50.99 years
 male
2.0 μg/day
31.00 - 
50.99 years
 female
2.0 μg/day
51.00 - 
69.99 years
 male
2.0 μg/day
51.00 - 
69.99 years
 female
2.0 μg/day
70.00 - 
 years
 male
2.0 μg/day
70.00 - 
 years
 female
2.0 μg/day
 - 
18.99 years
 lactating
2.4 μg/day
19.00 - 
50.99 years
 lactating
2.4 μg/day
 - 
18.99 years
 pregnant
2.2 μg/day
19.00 - 
50.99 years
 pregnant
2.2 μg/day

Sources

Institute of Medicine (US). (2006). Dietary Reference Intakes: The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements. (Consensus Study Report). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.17226/11537 at 2019-05-12.