Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin essential to your body for many functions, such as carbohydrate metabolism, DNA synthesis and cellular and tissue repair. B12 is also important for the proper health and function of nerves within your body. Your body does not create vitamin B12, so you must consume foods such as milk products, poultry, meat and eggs to achieve the daily recommended allowance of the vitamin. When your body lacks the appropriate amount of vitamin B12, a condition known as peripheral neuropathy can occur.
Sensation Changes
The peripheral nerves send messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to the organs, skin and muscles. Over time, a B12 deficiency can cause damage to your sensory nerves, producing burning, tingling, numbness and nerve pain, according to MayoClinic.com. This damage can also cause lack of coordination and inability to determine joint position. Damage most often occurs in the longest nerves, such as those in the toes. People often first notice symptoms developing in the fingers, arms, legs and toes first.
Autonomic Disorders
When you suffer nerve damage from a B12 deficiency this can often affect the autonomic nerves that control semi-voluntary or involuntary functions, including blood pressure and the internal organs. Over time, this damage can cause blurred vision, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness or fainting upon standing, urinary hesitancy, heat intolerance and nausea and vomiting. Men may experience male impotence. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that in some cases, people may also experience unintentional weight loss, decreased ability to produce sweat and feeling full after eating very little.
Movement Difficulties
B12 deficiencies can also damage the motor fibers responsible for movement. This can often present as weakness, loss of dexterity or loss of muscle. In some cases, muscle cramps may indicate motor nerve damage, according to the National Institutes of Health. Other possible symptoms of B12 related neuropathy includes difficulty breathing, inability to move parts of the body, lack of muscle control and difficulty swallowing.
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