The intake recommendations (D-A-CH reference values) of the German Nutrition Society (DGE) presented below are aimed at healthy people of normal weight. They do not refer to the supply of sick and convalescent people. Individual requirements may therefore be higher than the DGE recommendations (e.g. due to diet, consumption of stimulants, long-term medication, etc.).
Furthermore, you will find the safe daily maximum amount (Guidance Level) of the Expert Panel for Vitamins and Minerals (EVM) in the table on the right. This value reflects the safe maximum amount of a micronutrient (vital substance) that does not cause any side effects when taken daily, lifelong from all sources (food and supplements).
Recommended intake
| Age | Vitamin B12 | |
| µg/day | Guidance Levels of EVMd(µg) | |
| Infants | ||
| 0 to under 4 monthsa | 0,5 | – – |
| 4 to under 12 months | 1,4 | – – |
| Children | ||
| 1 to under 4 years | 1,5 | 530 |
| 4 to under 7 years | 2,0 | 730 |
| 7 to under 10 years | 2,5 | 1.000 |
| 10 to under 13 years | 3,5 | 1.330 |
| 13 to under 15 years | 4,0 | 1.330 |
| Adolescents and adults | ||
| 15 to under 19 years | 4,0 | 1.730 |
| 19 to under 25 years | 4,0 | 2.000 |
| 25 to under 51 years | 4,0 | 2.000 |
| 51 to under 65 years | 4,0 | 2.000 |
| 65 years and older | 4,0 | 2.000 |
| Pregnant | 4,5 | – – |
| Stillendec | 5,5 | – – |
aEstimated value
bTo replenish stores and maintain nutrient density.
cApprox. 0.13 µg vitamin B3 supplement per 100 g secreted milk
dGuidance Level (guideline value for a safe total daily intake) of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (EVM)
In the course of the standardization of European regulations, valid Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) were issued in the European Union (EU) and made mandatory for nutrition labeling in 1990 in Directive 90/496/EEC. An update of this directive took place in 2008. In 2011, the RDA values were replaced by NRV values (Nutrient Reference Value) in Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011. The NRV values indicate the amount of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that an average person should consume daily to meet their needs.
| Vitamin | Name | NRV |
| Vitamin B12 | Cobalamin | 2.5 µg |
Caution. An NRV is not an indication of maximum amounts and upper limits – see above under “Guidance Level”. NRV values also do not take into account gender and age – see above under Recommendations of the German Nutrition Society (DGE) e. V..
