According to Sally M. Pacholok in the February 2014 issue of Pharmacy Times, vitamin B12 deficiencies often go undiagnosed in infants. What is even worse is that some of the symptoms of this deficiency so closely resemble those of autism that the child is misdiagnosed, when a simple replenishment program could reverse the symptoms. These symptoms include:

• Developmental delay
• Flaccid muscles
• Tremor
• Seizures
• Reduced IQ
• Mental retardation

MRI scans will typically reveal brain atrophy.

Risks of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Pregnant Women

Sadly, although medical professionals now pay close attention to folic acid levels for pregnant women, many don’t realize that vitamin B12 deficiencies are also involved in neural tube defects, preeclampsia, and miscarriage. Prenatal vitamins do not contain enough vitamin B12 to restore a depleted mother’s levels.

Ms. Pacholok urges that women intending to get pregnant, pregnant, or who are nursing to be screened for vitamin B12 deficiency. She also suggests that infants who are colicky, apathetic, or slow to develop should also be screened. In both of these cases, restoring depleted vitamin B12 may make a great deal of difference in the health and wellbeing of both the mother and her children.