Supplementing infants with vitamin B12 to improve development

Vitamin B12 Status in Infancy and the Effect of Providing Vitamin B12 to Infants With Signs of Suboptimal Vitamin B12 Status - a Registry-based, Randomized Controlled Trial

Phase2; Phase3 Interventional Sykehuset Innlandet HF · NCT05005897

This study is testing if giving breastfed infants daily vitamin B12 can help them grow and develop better.

Quick facts

PhasePhase2; Phase3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment600 (estimated)
Ages1 Month to 2 Months
SexAll
SponsorSykehuset Innlandet HF Academic / other
Locations1 site (Lillehammer)
Trial IDNCT05005897 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effects of daily oral vitamin B12 supplementation in breastfed infants to assess its impact on neurodevelopment and other health outcomes. It is designed as an individually randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, where infants will be assigned to either a screening group or a control group. The screening group will receive immediate measurements, while the control group will have their serum stored for analysis after one year. The study aims to address the common issue of vitamin B12 deficiency and its implications for infant growth and development.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are breastfed infants whose mothers plan to exclusively breastfeed for at least four months.

Not a fit: Patients who have severe systemic illnesses, growth retardation, or congenital malformations may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could significantly enhance neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with vitamin B12 deficiency.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with vitamin supplementation in infants, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Availability of informed verbal consent
2. Plan to reside in the defined study area for the next 12 months
3. Mothers intend to breastfeed their children for at least 8 months, and exclusively for 4 months

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Severe systemic illness requiring hospitalization
2. Growth retardation
3. Severe congenital malformations
4. Plasma cobalamin concentration \<148 pmol/L (These children will be treated for vitamin B12 deficiency and not included in the RCT, but will be included in the cohort design)

Where this trial is running

Lillehammer

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Vitamin B 12 DeficiencyNutritionVitaminsBreastfeedingInfantNeurodevelopmentGrowthClinical trial
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.