Prevent Major Birth Defects
Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient to keep a healthy pregnancy. Research shows that the brain of a fetus and nervous system need B12 levels from the mother to develop appropriately. Vitamin B12 deficiency in the early stages of pregnancy heightens the risk of congenital disabilities.
One of the significant examples of congenital disabilities that may occur is neural tube defects [11]. Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency may also lead to miscarriage or premature birth.
A study discovered that women with vitamin B12 lower than 250 mg/dL were three times more likely to give birth to a child with congenital disabilities than those with enough levels. Women [12] with B12 deficiency and levels lower than 150 mg/dL had five times higher risk of major congenital disabilities than those with levels above 400 mg/dL.