Iron poisoning is recognized as a leading cause of poisoning deaths in young children. Since January of 1997 in response to concerns, the FDA has required all iron-containing supplements to carry a standard warning on labels about the risk of acute iron poisoning in children under 6 years of age. This vitamin, like folate, is required for red blood cell production, to maintain central nervous system function, and for energy metabolism. Deficiency of vitamin B12 is rare with a varied and well-balanced diet easily meeting the body's needs. However, deficiency is more common in persons with digestive diseases.
Deficiency occurs as a result of poor dietary intake or inadequate absorption.
Inadequate amounts of intrinsic factor, a substance in digestive juices that binds to vitamin B12 and assists in its digestion in the lower small intestine, is a cause of decreased absorption. Causes of poor absorption are intestinal infections or surgeries where part of the small intestine has been removed at the site of B12 absorption, or removal of the part of the stomach that secretes intrinsic factor. In addition, persons consuming a strict vegetarian diet may be at risk for inadequacy. Vitamin B12 supplementation appears to be safe, as no known toxic effects have been shown in adults who consume several times the recommended daily amount. Zinc Zinc is important for the synthesis of DNA and is active in a number of enzyme pathways required for cell division and growth.