Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause neuropathy or nerve damage in the extremities. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, plays an important role in synthesizing or building DNA and supporting neurological function. A deficiency of this vitamin can cause numerous blood and nervous system disorders. In most cases, early diagnosis and prompt treatment of the deficiency can reverse symptoms and restore health.
Function
Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin with numerous functions. According to MayoClinic.com, vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that is often found in a variety of foods, including fish, shellfish, meat and dairy products. Most vitamin B complex formulations use vitamin B12 in combination with other B vitamins. The principle functions of vitamin B12 include maintaining the health of nerves and red blood cells. Vitamin B12 is also required to create DNA -- the genetic material contained in every cell in a person's body.
Causes
Several factors or conditions can cause vitamin B12 deficiency. According to the MedlinePlus website, dietary factors that can cause vitamin B12 deficiency include consuming a vegetarian or vegan diet, malnutrition during infancy and poor nutrition during pregnancy. Certain medical conditions can also cause vitamin B12 deficiency, including chronic alcoholism, intestinal diseases such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease and fish tapeworm, pernicious anemia and surgeries that remove a portion of a person's stomach or small intestine. Some individuals develop vitamin B12 deficiency from the chronic or long-term consumption of antacids or other heartburn medicines.
Symptoms
A person with vitamin B12 deficiency may experience some or all of the symptoms typically associated with this condition. Common signs and symptoms associated with vitamin B12 deficiency include diarrhea or constipation, fatigue, lack of energy, lightheadedness with physical exertion, anorexia or loss of appetite, pale skin, difficulty concentrating, dyspnea or shortness of breath at rest or during exercise, swollen tongue and nerve-related damage, such as confusion or dementia, depression and balance or coordination difficulties. Many people with vitamin B12 deficiency will also experience peripheral neuropathy or damage to the nerves in the hands and feet that causes numbness and tingling in affected areas.
Treatment
Treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency and neuropathy depends on the cause of the deficiency. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, a person whose vitamin B12 deficiency and neuropathy is caused by pernicious anemia -- a condition in which stomach cells are lost and vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed -- requires lifelong injections of vitamin B12. If vitamin B12 deficiency and neuropathy is caused by a lack of dietary vitamin B12, consuming vitamin supplements and a balanced diet can be an effective treatment, although most people with this condition may initially benefit from vitamin B12 injections too.
Prevention
The best way to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency and neuropathy, states the UMMC, is to consume a healthy and balanced diet. In some cases, vitamin B12 injections can prevent vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms, such as neuropathy, after surgeries known to cause this condition. According to the UMMC, early diagnosis and treatment can decrease the severity and complications associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Although most natural sources of vitamin B12 are found in animal products, certain breakfast cereals may also be fortified with this essential vitamin.
