In addition to regulating the formation of red blood cells and supporting the functions of iron in the body, vitamin B-12 promotes the production of fatty acids vital to the production and maintenance of myelin -- the protective coating surrounding nerve cells. Although rare, according to MayoClinic.com, a vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause nerve degeneration and irreversible nerve damage. Some of the symptoms of a B-12 deficiency, therefore, resemble the symptoms caused by multiple sclerosis, or MS, a chronic disease that causes the breakdown of myelin and damages nerve cells.
Fatigue
Fatigue describes a feeling of extreme tiredness that fails to resolve with rest. Fatigue can occur due to a range of conditions from everyday exertion to serious physical or emotional disorders. Therefore, in order to treat fatigue, doctors must determine the underlying cause. Approximately 80 percent of the patients with MS experience fatigue, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Because MS damages the protective coating surrounding nerves, known as the myelin, and eventually damages the nerves, patients must expend added energy just to do simple tasks, resulting in fatigue. Similarly, a vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause nerve damage that can lead to fatigue. Vitamin B-12 also aids in the formation of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. A deficiency in B-12 can cause anemia, a decrease in red blood cells, which leads to fatigue.
Numbness and Tingling
Numbness and tingling, a condition known as paresthesias, often occurs as a result of nerve damage. A lack of vitamin B-12 affects the myelin surrounding the nerves and interferes with the ability of the nerves to send signals. This can cause numbness and tingling, usually felt in the hands and feet, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. MS also interferes with the transmission of nerve signals, causing numbness and tingling felt in the hands, feet and face.
Loss of Balance
Pernicious anemia describes a condition that occurs due to a lack of intrinsic factor -- a protein produced by the parietal cells in the lining of the stomach. Without intrinsic factor, the digestive tract cannot absorb vitamin B-12, resulting in a deficiency. The combination of a decrease in the number of red blood cells and the nerve damage together can cause muscle weakness that leads to a loss of balance and difficulty walking. Similarly, those with MS experience muscle weakness due to the nerve damage that can cause difficulty walking and balance and coordination problems.
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