It's not just adults that need vitamin b12.  A review report published in Advances in Nutrition reminds parents of the importance of vitamin B-12 for the brain development and cognitive function in their children.

The report says that inadequate serum vitamin B 12 levels or intake during pregnancy and early childhood are known to be associated with adverse pediatric health outcomes such as impaired cognitive development.

Authors of the report say that although vitamin b12 insufficiency is common and it is associated with adverse cognitive outcomes, no studies have been conducted to examine the potentially beneficial effects of vitamin b12 supplements on pediatric cognition.

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally occurring in animal foods such as fish, meat, poultry, and eggs.  Vitamin b12 is generally not present in plant foods.  For that reason, vegans and vegetarians can be vitamin b12 deficient if they do not take vitamin B 12 supplements. (David Liu)

For more information on vitamin B12, visit https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/#h2

Sudha Venkatramanan Ilianna E Armata  Barbara J Strupp  and Julia L Finkelstein  Vitamin B-12 and Cognition in Children  Adv Nutr September 2016 Adv Nutr vol. 7: 879-888, 2016