Published in the BMJ Pediatrics Open journal, this study looked at whether giving pregnant women extra vitamin B12 could improve their babies’ brain development. It focused on women in India and Nepal who mostly followed vegetarian diets, which often provide very little B12. Over 700 women in early pregnancy were randomly assigned to take either a higher dose (250 micrograms per day) or a lower dose (50 micrograms per day) of vitamin B12, continuing through pregnancy and for six months after giving birth. Researchers then assessed the babies’ development at around 9-12 months of age, along with measuring vitamin levels in both mothers and infants. A total of 531 women, and their babies, completed the study.
The results showed that babies whose mothers took the higher dose performed better on tests of mental development. Mothers taking the higher dose also had much bigger increases in their B12 levels during pregnancy, suggesting the supplement was more effective at correcting deficiency. Importantly, both doses were safe, and there were no major differences in birth outcomes, growth, or overall health of the babies.
Overall, the study suggests that giving higher amounts of vitamin B12 to pregnant women – especially those with low intake from diet – can improve early brain development in their children. The findings support the idea that B12 plays an important role in a baby’s developing brain and that standard low-dose supplements may not be enough in populations at risk of deficiency.
To learn more about the importance of micronutrients during pregnancy, see parts one and two of the special pregnancy feature article on our website.
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April 24, 2026B12 Supplements for Pregnant Vegetarians May Boost Infant Neurodevelopment
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Pre- and post-natal vitamin B12 supplements for pregnant vegetarian women may improve neurodevelopment scores for their infants, says a new large, multi-center, double-blind randomized controlled trial.
[Source: nutraingredients.com]
[Image source: freepik.com]
Comment
Published in the BMJ Pediatrics Open journal, this study looked at whether giving pregnant women extra vitamin B12 could improve their babies’ brain development. It focused on women in India and Nepal who mostly followed vegetarian diets, which often provide very little B12. Over 700 women in early pregnancy were randomly assigned to take either a higher dose (250 micrograms per day) or a lower dose (50 micrograms per day) of vitamin B12, continuing through pregnancy and for six months after giving birth. Researchers then assessed the babies’ development at around 9-12 months of age, along with measuring vitamin levels in both mothers and infants. A total of 531 women, and their babies, completed the study.
The results showed that babies whose mothers took the higher dose performed better on tests of mental development. Mothers taking the higher dose also had much bigger increases in their B12 levels during pregnancy, suggesting the supplement was more effective at correcting deficiency. Importantly, both doses were safe, and there were no major differences in birth outcomes, growth, or overall health of the babies.
Overall, the study suggests that giving higher amounts of vitamin B12 to pregnant women – especially those with low intake from diet – can improve early brain development in their children. The findings support the idea that B12 plays an important role in a baby’s developing brain and that standard low-dose supplements may not be enough in populations at risk of deficiency.
To learn more about the importance of micronutrients during pregnancy, see parts one and two of the special pregnancy feature article on our website.
Dr. Rath Health Foundation
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