“As the body ages, the stomach’s acidity decreases and as a result it’s harder to get enough vitamin B12 in your diet,” says Dr. Peeke. Stomach acid helps release vitamin B12 from food, and B12 is important because it helps maintain a healthy nervous system and key metabolic processes. “An estimated 10 to 30 percent of adults over the age of 50 have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from food,” Dr. Peeke says. “People who regularly take medications that suppress stomach acid—such as antacids—may also have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from food.” People over 50 typically should get 2.4 micrograms of B12 every day.
Foods that come from animals, such as meat, eggs, seafood, and dairy, have the highest amounts of B12, but you can also get the vitamin from B12-fortified foods such as whole-grain cereals. If you’re concerned about not getting enough B12, talk to your doctor about adding a multivitamin or B12 supplement to your diet.
